Virgin Blue Holdings confirmed its order for six 777-300ERs with options for six more, and will lease one additional -300ER from ILFC. The order for the six is worth $1.5 billion at list prices and was listed last week on Boeing's website as unidentified (ATWOnline, March 19). The aircraft will be used to establish a new long-haul airline next year providing service from Australia to the US "and other destinations." (ATWOnline, Feb. 22).

Cargolux this week placed a follow-on order for three 747-8 freighters valued at $845 million plus two options, bringing its total firm orders for the type to 13. It is the co-launch customer for the 747-8F along with Nippon Cargo Airlines (ATWOnline, Nov. 16, 2005). It also has 10 purchase rights. Boeing said it now has a combined 87 firm orders for the 747-8F and the 747-8 Intercontinental passenger version.

Alpi Eagles of Italy ordered five E-195s, plus five options and six purchase rights, Embraer announced yesterday. The order, which had been listed as "undisclosed" in the manufacturer's order book, will be valued at $584 million if all options and purchase rights are exercised. Based in Venice, Alpi is the launch customer for the high-capacity, 122-seat, single-class E-195, which was announced at Farnborough last July (ATWOnline, July 24, 2006).

Airbus is facing an uphill battle to retain Malaysia Airlines as an A380 customer. According to Business Times, MAS remains in discussions with the manufacturer on "various options" for its order for six. The newspaper reported that the airline and parent Penerbangan Malaysia Bhd. said in an e-mailed statement that they had "yet to come to any conclusion." It also cited sources stating that a cancellation is likely.

A380 development aircraft MSN7, with nearly 500 passengers onboard and operated with assistance from Lufthansa, made a smooth landing at New York JFK shortly after noon yesterday, becoming the first of the aircraft type to land at a US airport (see story below). A second development A380 carrying no passengers arrived shortly thereafter at Los Angeles International Airport. "We're testing actual factors in a real airline environment. This shows the A380 works," Airbus CCO John Leahy said.

The A380 landed in the US for the first time yesterday, at New York JFK's Terminal 1, following a quiet flight from Frankfurt that took 45 min. less than the 7 hr. 45 min. scheduled flight time.

Aeroflot said it will take delivery of two A320s this month and will take three A319s and three A321s by year end. Next year it expects to take delivery from Airbus of 11 purchased A320s. It currently operates 26 A320 family aircraft.

Pratt & Whitney Global Service Partners signed a seven-year engine management program deal with Martinair covering on-wing performance monitoring services for the carrier's 59 PW4000s.