Cathay Pacific Airways placed an order for eight A330-300s to be delivered in 2010-12, Airbus and Rolls-Royce announced yesterday. The Trent 700-powered aircraft will join a fleet of 48 -300s operated by CX and Dragonair, including three leased aircraft scheduled for delivery next year. Both carriers will receive new planes. Rolls said the engine order was worth approximately $280 million at list prices.

El Al's recent order for four 737-800s (ATWOnline, Dec. 6) is part of the airline's twofold strategy to reduce the average age of its fleet and reduce the number of fleet types, according to Chairman Israel Borovich. The carrier eventually aims to operate just the 747-400, 777-200 and 737NG. It currently flies the 777-200ER and would like to add the -300 in the future, Borovich confirmed to ATWOnline. It plans to retire its 757s.

Asia's largest and most successful low-cost airline appears set to become the largest A320 operator in the world as well. AirAsia yesterday placed an order for 25 firm A320s plus 25 options, bringing the commitment of the group (Malaysia AirAsia, Thai AirAsia, Indonesia AirAsia) to 175 firm aircraft and 50 options. The contract was signed at the Langkawi Airshow by AirAsia CEO Tony Fernandes and Airbus COO-Customers John Leahy.

Pratt & Whitney said its Geared Turbofan demonstrator engine "successfully completed its first series of engine runs, reaching full power [of] 30,000 lb. thrust" at the company's test facility in West Palm Beach. The GTF has been selected as the exclusive engine for the proposed Mitsubishi Regional Jet and has been chosen by Bombardier for its planned CSeries 110/130-seat jet family (ATWOnline, Nov. 14). Both aircraft are scheduled to enter service in 2013.

Malaysia Airlines ordered 20 ATR 72-500s for its wholly owned subsidiaries Firefly and MASwings. Each carrier will receive 10 aircraft, with 10 options earmarked for Firefly and five for MASwings. The deal excluding options is valued at $650 million. Firefly will take delivery of its first aircraft next year, while the first for MASwings will arrive in 2009.

Boeing announced yesterday that Indonesia's Lion Air is the customer for 22 previously unidentified 737-900ERs. An order was placed on May 25 for 62 737-900ERs, with 40 confirmed at the Paris Air Show (ATWOnline, June 19) and the balance confirmed yesterday.

Air Vanuatu placed an order for one ATR 72-500 with delivery scheduled for 2009. The 70-seat aircraft will be equipped with 120-min. ETOPS capability, enabling the carrier to develop its international network with flights to surrounding islands such as Fiji and the Solomons.

Despite high fuel prices, Chinese carriers are entering what analysts predict will be a period of robust growth driven by rising load factors. According to statistics released Friday by CAAC, the Chinese air transport industry flew 3.28 billion RTKs in October, up 16.7% over the year-ago month. Passenger boardings jumped 15.2% to 18.6 million while cargo traffic climbed 19.7% to 1.05 billion ATKs. Load factor rose 4.3 points to 79%.