TAP Portugal signed a firm order for 12 A350 XWBs plus three options, replacing its 2005 order for 10 of the former version of the A350, Airbus said (ATWOnline, June 19). The carrier also signed a letter of intent for an additional eight A320 family aircraft.

Virgin America, forced by the US Dept. of Transportation to replace CEO Fred Reid (ATWOnline, May 21), yesterday announced that American Airlines Senior VP-Global Sales C. David Cush will take over the position on Dec. 10. "David's extensive industry experience, business acumen and creativity are the perfect attributes for leading the company as it continues to grow from a promising startup to a major carrier," VX Chairman Donald Carty said.

China's government reached agreement with Airbus yesterday on firm orders for 110 A320 family aircraft and 40 A330s valued at approximately $15 billion and also signed an MOU with the manufacturer stipulating that Chinese industry will take a 5% stake in A350 XWB production.

LAN Airlines placed a firm order with Rolls-Royce for Trent 1000s to power 26 787s it has on order to begin delivering in 2012 (ATWOnline, Nov. 6). The order, which includes 15 options, is the first LAN has placed with Rolls. The two parties also reached agreement on a long-term TotalCare service program. Total value of the deal, including the 15 options, is more than $2.4 billion, Rolls said. LAN is slated to be Latin America's largest 787 operator.

Brazil's OceanAir placed a firm order for seven A330-200s, 14 A319s and seven A320s collectively valued at $2.65 billion, Airbus said. Deliveries will begin in 2009. OceanAir is owned by Synergy Group, also parent of Colombia's Avianca. Synergy Chairman German Efromovich told reporters in Sao Paulo yesterday that he wants to grow OceanAir's domestic market share to 15% by 2010 from 2% currently and compete more directly with Gol and TAM and believes the 21 A320 family aircraft will help achieve that goal.

Rolls-Royce will establish a facility in Singapore to assemble and test large civil aircraft engines, with the initial focus on the Trent 1000 powering the 787 and the Trent XWB powering the A350 XWB. "Together with its existing UK facility in Derby, this will provide the company with a dual sourcing capability for the assembly and test of large civil engines, including future new versions of the Trent engine," Rolls said.

Air Canada announced a 10-year lease deal with ILFC for one 777-300ER. AC will take delivery of its 18th 777 and sixth -300ER in April 2009. It has placed orders with Boeing for 16 777s plus 18 purchase rights.

US Airways yesterday announced an expansion to its massive Airbus order, reaching an agreement with the manufacturer for five additional A330-200s and signing an LOI with ILFC for two more.