LOT Polish Airlines signed a contract for 12 E-175s plus two options and 10 purchase rights, the Brazilian manufacturer announced yesterday, adding that the aircraft were listed on its fourth-quarter backlog as unidentified. Firm aircraft are worth $372 million and the order could rise to $744 million if all options and purchase rights are exercised. Aircraft will seat 82 passengers. LOT will become the largest E-Jet operator in Europe once the jets are delivered, Embraer said. It was an E-Jet launch customer with the E-170 in 2004 and currently operates 10 170s and six 175s.

UK's Air Accident Investigation Branch will be joined by the US National Transportation Safety Board and Boeing to investigate yesterday afternoon's accident at London Heathrow, where a British Airways 777-200ER landed in the grass several hundred meters short of Runway 27L near a busy perimeter road. The aircraft skidded, causing severe damage to the landing gear, both engines and the wings. Three passengers suffered minor injuries during evacuation, BA said.

Spring Airlines signed an MOU to purchase CFM56-5Bs for 10 A320s in an order valued at approximately $170 million. Delivery is slated for March 2009. Spring also agreed to lease 12 additional CFM56-5B-powered A320s to be delivered between 2009 and 2012.

PrivatAir converted a 787-8 purchase right into a firm order, Boeing announced yesterday. The company now has two 787s on firm order plus one remaining purchase right. "The ever-increasing demand from charter customers for long-range, large-cabin aircraft shows no sign of abating," PrivatAir CEO Greg Thomas said.

Boeing's 787 suppliers continue to fall short in completing work correctly and in a timely manner, the manufacturer admitted yesterday, forcing it to push first flight back another three months to "around" the end of the second quarter--nearly a year after rollout--and creating considerable uncertainty regarding the Dreamliner's delivery schedule and entry into service.

Thai Airways plans to lease 20 A320s to replace its 737s and 14 787s to replace its A300s and A330s, according to sources at the airline. The 787 deliveries are thought to start from 2014.

Airbus recorded another blockbuster year with deliveries of 453 aircraft, 19 more than in 2006 and 12 more than Boeing, and a record 1,341 net orders worth $157.1 billion. While slightly less than its rival's 1,413 net orders (ATWOnline, Jan. 7), the difference largely is academic as both manufacturers have the sobering challenge of delivering, ontime, what they have sold (ATWOnline, Jan. 14).

Rockwell Collins said Southwest Airlines selected the GPS-4000S for RNP operations. In May, Southwest told FAA it will equip its entire fleet for RNP, including retrofitting its 737 Classics (ATWOnline, May 18, 2007). Installation will begin this year.