Air Arabia plans to invest $2 billion and replace its nine leased A320s and add an additional 25 aircraft, the Arab Air Carriers Organization said. The Bahrain-based LCC is negotiating with both Airbus and Boeing. Last month it announced its intention to launch an IPO in the current quarter (ATWOnline, Jan. 25).

Italy's Air One announced the conversion of 10 A320 options into firm orders Friday, bringing its total order for the type to 40 firm along with 25 options and 25 purchase rights (ATWOnline, Jan. 13, 2006). The 159-seat aircraft will be CFM56-5B6/P-powered.

Pratt & Whitney said Indian Airlines chose PW4000-100s to power two A330-200s it has on order, the first of which will be delivered in October. Indian currently has a fleet of 48 A320s and six A319s as well as 11 737s that are operated by subsidiary Alliance Air.

Delta Air Lines signed an agreement with Bombardier for 30 firm CRJ900s plus 30 options. Firm aircraft are worth $1.1 billion at list prices and the deal's value will increase to about $2.3 billion if all options are exercised. The order was approved by the US Bankruptcy Court. "The acquisition of these aircraft will help Delta meet its network and operational needs for 2007 and 2008," VP-Delta Connection Shawn Anderson said.

Nordam said it received approval from Boeing to supply its new composite window frame for the 787. According to the Tulsa-based company, the frame results in "almost a 50% weight savings" over a traditional aluminum frame while offering "superior damage tolerance." The initial shipsets have been delivered to Boeing's fuselage manufacturing partners Alenia, Kawasaki Heavy Industries, Spirit Aerosystems and Vought Aircraft Industries.

Boeing remains on track to deliver the first 787s in the latter half of the first quarter of 2008. Speaking in Sydney, Boeing VP-Marketing Randy Baseler told ATWOnline that the program is on time for a rollout in July with first flight scheduled for August. He said the company will begin final assembly of the first 787 early in the second quarter. "The schedule for the 787 is very aggressive, 6-18 months more aggressive than any other Boeing airplane, but we are progressing right on track," he said.

Rockwell Collins said Cathay Pacific Airways will install RC's Airshow 4200D moving map and inflight information system on five A330s and 18 777s, with an option for an additional 20 line fit aircraft. Installation is scheduled for July.

Volga-Dnepr Group and Motor Sich of Ukraine announced the formation of a joint venture company "to manage the relaunch of serial production of the An-124-100" Ruslan freighter with the aim of developing and producing a new version, "the An-124-100M-150," and increasing the operating life of existing An-124s. Target goals for the new version are increases in payload capacity from 120 to 150 tonnes and in operating life of the aircraft to 60,000 hr. and later to 80,000 flight hr. The flight control system also will undergo significant improvements.