ABX Air yesterday agreed to purchase a 767-200ER from Air China and convert it to a freighter for long-haul international operations. The Wilmington, Ohio-based cargo carrier projected the total cost to purchase, modify and put the aircraft into revenue service at approximately $23 million. ABX primarily operates as a DHL subservice carrier in the US but is eager to grow non-DHL operations outside North America.

Boeing enjoyed a strong week last week with orders from Air New Zealand, WestJet and Ukraine's AeroSvit Airlines. ANZ is continuing to orchestrate the replacement of its 747-400s, placing a firm order for four 777-300ERs plus three options. The deal represents the conversion of price rights that were part of the carrier's 2004 order for up to 52 long-haul aircraft.

Air France KLM Group subsidiaries Regional and KLM Cityhopper last week placed a joint order for 20 E-170/190 aircraft plus 18 options. The group said the combined order "will lead to substantial synergies both in the purchasing of aircraft, engines and spare parts and in fleet management, operational maintenance and crew training." Regional will take six 170s and four 190s and Cityhopper will take 10 190s and replace its oldest F100s. Deliveries are scheduled between 2008 and 2011.

Montenegro Airlines signed an agreement to lease two E-195s from GECAS. Deliveries are scheduled for May 2008 and May 2009. Aircraft will be configured with 116 seats in two classes--the first business class-equipped E-195s in Europe--and used on routes to Russia, the UK and Scandinavia, Embraer said.

Jet Airways exercised options for three 777-300ERs valued at more than $790 million, bringing its total firm orders for the type to 13, Boeing announced yesterday. Jet took delivery of its first 777-300ER in April.

BOEING COULD NOT HAVE CHOSEN a better day to premiere its first all-new commercial transport in 13 years. The sky over Seattle on 07/08/07 was a deep, deep blue, like the old Perry Como song. It perfectly matched the gleaming two-tone blue and silver livery of the 787 as it rolled into view of 15,000 jubilant guests gathered in the world's largest buildinghome of the company's twin-aisle production.

FOR MOST OF ITS HISTORY, the passenger airline industry did not require a distribution strategy. In the beginning, passengers simply walked up to the airline's desk at the airport. Then the carriers added call centers and city ticket offices. Travel agencies began selling tickets in the 1930s and the airlines were, for the most part, content to use them as an ad hoc sales force.

CLICKAIR CHIEF EXECUTIVE ALEX Cruz certainly was boastful about his startup airline during his presentation at French Connect here earlier this year. According to the former Accenture executive, the Barcelona-based carrier that operated 18 A320s at the end of June represents the largest investment in a startup, is Europe's fastest-growing airline, is second only to Ryanair in operating cost and soon will have the most frills of any LCC.