China Airlines is considering a $1.26 billion purchase of seven 787s, according to China Times. Sources at the airline told ATWOnline that the 787s, if selected, would replace the carrier's A340-300s, which a source revealed will leave the fleet first due to higher maintenance expenses and lower operating efficiency. MD Zhao Guoshuai said the company is appraising a variety of replacement aircraft. For a time it was thought to be the launch customer for the 747-8.

Compass Airlines, the wholly owned Northwest Airlines regional subsidiary, took delivery of the first of 36 E-175s. They will be configured with 12 seats in first class and 64 in coach. Compass, flying as Northwest Airlink, launched its first flight in May with a CRJ200. It plans to operate 10 E-175s by year end and all 36 by the end of 2008.

AirTran Airways this week took delivery of its 50th 737NG. It took its first of the type in August 2004. It also operates 87 717s.

With French President Nicolas Sarkozy declaring yesterday in Toulouse that the management structure of Airbus and its parent EADS "can't go on" in its current form, a sweeping Franco-German compromise was announced in which EADS abandoned its seven-year-old dual-nationality/co-CEO setup and a new Airbus CEO--the fourth in less than 13 months--was installed.

Embraer reported that its firm order backlog, including commercial, business and government aircraft, increased by 4% during the second quarter to $15.6 billion as Lufthansa and Japan Airlines placed significant E-Jet orders at the Paris Air Show (ATWOnline, June 19). The backlog was valued at $10.2 billion at the close of the 2006 second quarter. As of June 30 the Brazilian manufacturer had backlogged orders for 53 ERJ-145s, 22 E-170s, 69 E-175s, 283 E-190s and 26 E-195s for a total of 452.

Calling it "the largest investment in the company's history," LAN Airlines last week announced that the board of directors decided to purchase 26 787s and acquire an additional six on lease. The commitment, which also includes 10 options, will require an investment of $3.2 billion and would make the carrier Latin America's largest Dreamliner operator. LAN said it will take delivery between 2011 and 2016 and that the options will be available in 2017 and 2018. Type and engine were not announced.

Republic Airways Holdings increased its commitment to the E-175 by 13 firm aircraft, Embraer announced Friday. The order, worth $403 million at list prices and destined for RAH subsidiary Republic Airlines, comprises eight aircraft previously listed as "unidentified" by the Brazilian manufacturer and five converted options. The airline currently flies 76 E-170s and 11 175s, with a backlog of 32 aircraft. The parent company, which also owns Chautauqua Airlines and Shuttle America, operates 182 Embraer aircraft and is the world's largest E-jet operator.

Looking to reinforce their positions in an increasingly crowded domestic marketplace, Hainan Airlines, Shanghai Airlines, Spring Airlines and China United Airlines, among others, are planning aircraft buys this year.