ATR booked firm orders from 13 airlines for seven ATR 42-500s and 56 72-500s along with 25 options in 2006. Ten carriers are new ATR customers, which CEO Filippo Bagnato said confirmed that "a new wave of regional low-cost airlines are adopting turboprops in Europe and Asian markets." He said ATR also was seeing, as predicted, an increasing demand for its product in South America and Africa. Last year's orders included a previously unreported seven aircraft plus five options from Brazilian company TRIP Linhas Aereas, signed in December. African carriers committed to 12 new aircraft.

Airbus appears to be moving toward adopting a solid composite barrel for its A350 XWB after receiving mixed feedback on its plan to use composite panels on an aluminum frame. According to industry analysts, trade studies are underway in Toulouse for the change. Last fall ATWOnline revealed that Airbus was swapping to a composite structure (ATWOnline, Oct. 25, 2006) and that the aircraft's EIS would slip to 2014.

Airbus announced yesterday that Spirit Airlines finalized an order for 30 A319s last month that along with a previous order for seven A319s and seven A321s will more than double the budget carrier's fleet. The 144-seat, two-class aircraft will be powered by IAE V2500s and deliver from October 2009 through mid-2013. Rolls-Royce said its share of the engine order is worth $200 million. Spirit currently operates 25 A319s and six A321s from its Fort Lauderdale hub, a mix of purchased and leased aircraft.

Boeing said yesterday that GE Commercial Aviation Services booked a 39-aircraft order in 2006 valued at $5.34 billion comprising seven 777-300ERs, eight 777Fs and 24 737-800s. The aircraft, previously listed in Boeing's 2006 order ledger as belonging to an unidentified customer, will begin delivering next year and continue through 2010. The order boosts GECAS's 2006 order book with Boeing to 69.

Aircastle signed a $1.6 billion purchase agreement with "certain subsidiaries" of Guggenheim Aviation Investment Fund to acquire 26 passenger aircraft and 12 freighters. The passenger aircraft were unidentified, while the freighter purchase comprises four new 747-400ERFs, seven 747-400 conversions and one MD-11SF. The aircraft will be purchased in a series of closings scheduled from this month to February 2009, with 28 scheduled to close this year. "This is a transformational investment for Aircastle," CEO Ron Wainshal said.

UPS denied a French newspaper report that it plans to cancel its order for 10 A380Fs this week. The cargo carrier is the last customer for the freighter version of the aircraft. Rival FedEx cancelled its order for 10 A380Fs in November and placed an order for 15 777Fs with 15 options instead, saying that market demands were too pressing to wait for Airbus to work through production issues (ATWOnline, Nov. 8, 2006).

CTT Systems sold eight Zonal Drying Systems to Jet2.com for installation on 757-200s.

Boeing unveiled its 787-inspired revised interior mockup for the 747-8 Intercontinental in Renton. A number of changes were introduced after airline interest ramped up last year (ATW, December 2005). The staircase to the upper deck has been shifted back to its original position after carriers insisted the second door on the right side be freed for catering. There was concern that boarding passengers would obstruct the area.