TACA placed a firm order for 12 A320s and three A319s, Airbus announced yesterday. No engine choice or delivery date were announced for the aircraft, which will be configured in a two-class layout. TACA currently operates nine A319s, 23 A320s and four A321s.

UK Air Accidents Investigation Branch issued an update yesterday on its effort to trace the cause of the British Airways 777-200ER accident at London Heathrow last week, confirming that neither Trent 800 "responded to throttle lever inputs during the final approach" although they did continue to run.

Focus Aviation said it is the seller of the 747-400 recently purchased by El Al. The aircraft is on lease to Singapore Airlines and is due to be returned in the 2008 fourth quarter for subsequent handover to El Al. Sale was on behalf of Rabobank International and is Focus's 27th of a 747.

Thales will provide a package of avionics and cockpit systems for the A350 XWB including the Integrated Modular Avionics Suite, Interactive Control and Display system and Air Data and inertial reference unit. Contract is expected to generate up to €2 billion ($2.9 billion) in revenue over the first 20 years of in-service life, Thales said. Aircraft are slated to enter service in 2013.

ATR announced record sales of 113 aircraft in 2007 resulting in turnover of $1.1 billion, up 56% from the prior year. It delivered 44 aircraft last year compared to 24 in 2006. "The commercial record of 2007 represents a real milestone in ATR history," CEO Stephane Mayer said. "We are also proud of having almost doubled our deliveries in one year and of having delivered the first turboprop aircraft with inflight entertainment and light emitting diode in the passenger cabin." Since 2005, turboprops have enjoyed a resurgence, with ATR booking orders for a total of 226 new aircraft.

Finncomm Airlines firmed options on five ATR 72-500s. Aircraft will be configured with 68 seats and will be equipped with PW127M engines, EFB and the Elegance Cabin. Deliveries are scheduled for 2009-11. The Finnish carrier ordered eight ATR 42-500s plus options for eight additional aircraft in 2005. In 2006 it converted four firm 42-500s into the larger 72-500 and exercised three 72-500 options. Following this week's deal, valued at more than $90 million, it becomes the largest operator of ATR 500 series aircraft in Europe with four 42-500s and 12 72-500s.

Rolls-Royce announced that LAN Airlines ordered Trent 1000 engines for six 787-9s leased from ILFC. It placed an order for the powerplant two months ago covering 26 Dreamliners ordered directly from Boeing (ATWOnline, Nov. 22, 2007). New contract includes a TotalCare service agreement.

The 2008 orders race is underway as China Airlines, Air Europa, TAM and Jeju Air announced significant aircraft commitments or order confirmations.