Aeroflot is committed to phasing out its remaining Tu-134 and Tu-154 aircraft by 2010, according to press reports. Fourteen Tu-134s are scheduled to leave the fleet this year and be replaced by A320s and Sukhoi RRJs. The Tu-134 served the carrier for approximately 40 years. Aeroflot Chairman and CEO Valery Okulov told this website in November that Aeroflot's fleet plan calls for 65 A320 family aircraft and 30 RRJs on its short- and medium-haul network (ATWOnline, Nov. 22, 2006). It currently operates 88 aircraft.

Environmental pressures may influence Boeing to offer two solutions for the 737 replacement market, although the effort on that front still is relatively low-key. Speaking to ATWOnline late last week, Commercial Airplanes President Scott Carson suggested that environmental issues are a "top priority" at Boeing and that it may move the baseline for the 737 replacement higher than the current 90-200 seats to a 130/230-seat platform.

Boeing yesterday announced the finalization of UPS's order for 26 767-300ER freighters (ATWOnline, Feb. 6) and said the aircraft, to be delivered from 2009 through 2012, will be powered by GE CF6-80C2s.

Boeing is pleased with initial structural tests on the 787 that will provide opportunities for weight savings in later models.

CSA Czech Airlines is scheduled to take delivery of its first new A320 today. Through April it will collect three A320s and its first two A319s. The additions are part of a 12-aircraft order placed in late 2004 (ATWOnline, Oct. 19, 2004). Airbus will deliver the final four aircraft in 2008. New equipment replaces leased 737s. In April and May CSA will return four 737-500s and one -400.

Thai Airways announced that it will buy eight A330-200s to cover a shortfall in capacity resulting from the A380 delays. Thai President Apinan Sumanaseni made the announcement in Bangkok. The airline will receive its A380s in 2011 instead of 2009. Last year, Airbus leased 19 A330s to Singapore Airlines (ATWOnline, July 24, 2006) and sold four A330s to Qantas (ATWOnline, Dec.

Aviation Partners Boeing said yesterday that Gol placed an order for 27 additional Blended Winglet systems for installation on 737-800s the airline has on order for delivery through 2012. It already has 10 winglet-equipped -800s in service. Separately, Gol said it plans to operate a Sao Paulo-Lima-Mexico route later this year and will launch the service once it receives regulatory approvals.

Lufthansa yesterday revealed details of its plan to take the A380 on a series of route-proving tests next month that will include the jumbo jet's first landing in the US.