TAAG Angola Airlines took delivery on Nov. 11 of three 737-700s and two 777-200ERs. Chairman Jesus Nelson said TAAG will take delivery of an additional 737-700 in January and another 777-200ER in the fourth quarter of next year. He added that the airline is in negotiations to acquire a 777-300ER.

Airbus won six and two A320 firm orders from Kuwaiti lessor ALAFCO and Pakistani carrier Airblue respectively. ALAFCO Chairman and CEO Ahmad Alzabin predicted "strong demand for the A320 family aircraft during the coming years."

Boeing revealed yesterday that KLM converted six options for 737-800s that will be delivered before mid-2008. The firm order, previously listed by the manufacturer as "unidentified," is valued at $423 million. Boeing said KLM plans to use the new planes to "replace several Classic 737s." "In the current market environment, our customers want the most fuel-efficient products to keep their costs under control," said Marlin Dailey, Boeing Commercial Airplanes VP-sales-Europe, Russia and Central Asia.

Tiger Airways said yesterday it has chosen International Aero Engines V2500-A5s to power the eight A320s it ordered last month (ATWOnline, Oct. 18). Pratt & Whitney, one of four partners in the IAE consortium, said its share of the Tiger order is worth more than $100 million. The engine order is accompanied by a long-term V2500Select aftermarket agreement that will be extended to cover the Singapore carrier's existing fleet of eight A320s, which also are powered by V2500s.

Boeing is understood to be looking at taking a few pounds off the 747-8 Intercontinental with increased use of composites, a move aimed at gaining the extra range Emirates requires for its Dubai-US West Coast mission.

Now the sole shareholder in Airbus, EADS felt the full impact of the aircraft manufacturer's troubles as it reported a €195 million ($248.8 million) third-quarter loss, a reversal from a €279 million profit in the year-ago quarter. At Airbus, operating result plunged to a €350 million loss from a €410 million profit even as revenues rose 14% to €5.42 billion.

FedEx Express yesterday cancelled its $2.3 billion order for 10 A380Fs and placed an order for 15 777Fs with 15 options, becoming the first airline to cancel an A380 order and dealing a serious blow to beleaguered Airbus.

Aeroflot's board said last week that production of the Sukhoi Superjet 100, for which the Russian flag carrier became the launch customer with an order for 30 (ATWOnline, June 1), "is being realized in conformity with the schedule and working plan." The RRJ is scheduled to be certified and delivered in 2008.