Boeing's order book surged again last week with 38 new orders, bringing its 2006 total to 904, with insiders tipping some significant buys next week to round off a bumper year. The new orders were Kenya Airways' three 787-8s, KLM's three 737-800s, Qantas's five 737s, two 737s from Boeing Business Jets and 25 unidentified 737s. Boeing also identified the customers for three previously unidentified 777s as Qatar Airways (two dash 200Fs) and KLM (one dash 300ER).

Qantas delivered Airbus an early Christmas present, signing for eight more A380s and four A330-200s yesterday in Sydney. The order makes the airline the second-biggest A380 customer after Emirates and left Airbus President and CEO Louis Gallois looking forward to 2007. The signing was confirmation of an October announcement (ATWOnline, Oct. 31).

Boeing said yesterday that KLM exercised three 737-800 options and ordered a fourth 777-300ER. The narrowbodies, worth $212 million at list prices, will be powered by CFM56-7s and delivered in 2008. The 777, which had been attributed to an unidentified customer on Boeing's website, will be powered by the GE-90. Separately, Boeing named company veteran Tom Downey senior VP-communications.

Airbus COO-Customers John Leahy has conceded the top spot in 2007 orders to Boeing. Speaking yesterday to ATWOnline in Sydney about the prospect of another come-from-behind order surge, he said Airbus has "outsold Boeing every year for the last five years. I think it's always nice to share as long as we stay within a 40% to 60% band. There are two players in the market and you don't have a very stable market if one is always on top." But he reminded media that Airbus will deliver more aircraft (420) than Boeing in 2006 and 2007.

Finnair launched commercial flights with its first E-190. The carrier will receive a total of 10 100-seat E-190s within the next three years. It currently operates 10 E-170s.

Meridian Aerospace Group announced the sale of an ex-Delta Air Lines 737-200 from PNC Equipment Finance to Aventura Aviation of New York.

A380 launch customer Singapore Airlines gave the beleaguered aircraft program a boost yesterday by ordering nine more of the type along with six options, bringing to 19 the number of A380s it has on firm order. The nine new aircraft are worth a combined $2.7 billion. SIA also ordered 11 A320s plus nine options to be delivered to regional affiliate SilkAir from 2009 to 2012 and said it is planning to lease 19 A330-300s. The SilkAir order is valued at $1.33 billion. The regional said it will use the aircraft for flights in Asia.

ATR signed a contract with Airlinair, a regional partner of Air France, for one new ATR 72-500 scheduled for delivery in 2009. The deal is valued at $17 million. Airlinair is Europe's largest ATR operator with a fleet comprising seven ATR 42-300s, 11 42-500s, four 72-200s and one 72-210.