Bombardier said it received a firm order for 10 Q400s, along with 10 options, from an unidentified European carrier that currently does not operate the aircraft type. Contract is valued at $267 million and would rise to approximately $540 million if all options are exercised.

Qantas announced an order for 12 Q400s for regional subsidiary QantasLink, plus options and purchase rights for an additional 24. Firm order deliveries will begin in June 2008 and boost QantasLink's Q400 fleet to 21 aircraft. QF CEO Geoff Dixon said the order is valued at A$400 million ($356 million) and that the 72-seat aircraft are "central to QantasLink's growth strategy." The carrier will retire its 36-seat Dash 8-100s by early 2010. It is forecasting annual capacity growth of 19% during the July 2008-June 2010 period.

GE Aviation was selected to provide flight management systems for 200 737 Classics operated by Southwest Airlines in what may be the largest cockpit retrofit program announced to date. The technology upgrade is in keeping with SWA's plan to implement Required Navigation Performance at every airport it serves. Value of the deal was not disclosed. Deliveries are scheduled for 2008-09. The FMSs will be supplied by the Systems division of GE Aviation, formerly Smiths Aerospace.

ILFC is planning an imminent announcement of an order for 20 A350 XWBs valued at about $4 billion, Les Echos and Bloomberg News reported Friday. While there was no official confirmation, Airbus COO-Customers John Leahy last week said he was in talks with the lessor regarding the revamped aircraft, while Airbus North America Chairman Allan McArtor said ILFC was "very comfortable" with the redesigned aircraft and the manufacturer would be "thrilled" with an order from the lessor.

Northwest Airlines took delivery of its 32nd A330 last week, which the carrier said made it the world's largest operator of the Airbus widebody.

Aerolineas Argentinas and Air Comet parent Grupo Marsans, the Spanish tourism and transport giant, is planning to deploy its four A380s on Madrid-Buenos Aires service, but its desire to boost capacity to Mexico City may force it to increase its order. Marsans President President Gonzalo Pascual told ATWOnline at Monday's Singapore Airlines delivery ceremony in Toulouse that "for Mexico City we need two more A380s.

GE Aviation began testing the new CF34-10A that will power the ARJ21-700 being built by China Aviation Industry Corp. After a successful break-in run, the engine achieved 70% of its maximum thrust capability of more than 20,000 lb. during an initial test conducted on Oct. 8. The CF34-10A has about 80% commonality with the CF34-10E used on Embraer 190/195 aircraft. It will be certified at up to 18,500 lb. to meet thrust requirements for the 90-passenger ARJ21-700. Certification by US FAA is expected by late 2008. GE has sold almost 4,000 CF34s for regional jets.

Singapore Airlines' first A380 touched down at Changi International Wednesday evening at 18:42 local time, starting a new era in commercial aviation. The giant jet, which had departed Toulouse 13 hr. before, docked at the essentially complete and spectacular S$1.75 billion ($1.19 billion) Terminal 3, which is due to go into full-scale commercial operation on Jan. 9. Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong and more than 500 guests were in attendance.