Boeing Commercial Airplanes is on a pace to exceed its record sales result of last year, when it booked net orders for 1,002 aircraft (ATWOnline, Jan. 5). Through the first nine months of 2006, the manufacturer received orders for 736 aircraft, up from 643 in the year-ago period. September sales were particularly strong, with orders for 175 aircraft comprising 118 737NGs, 28 747s, four 767s and 25 787s. In September 2005, Boeing sold 24 aircraft comprising two 737s, 15 777s and seven 787s.

Boeing and Singapore Airlines yesterday finalized SIA's order for 20 787-9s with purchase rights for 20 more. The order is valued at more than $4.5 billion. SIA first announced its intent to purchase the Dreamliners in June (ATWOnline, June 15). Boeing said yesterday that the aircraft will be delivered from 2011 through 2013. "The carrier intends to use the new airplanes on routes to North Asia, the Indian subcontinent and the Middle East," the manufacturer said.

ATR and TACV Cabo Verde Airlines signed a $50 million contract for two new ATR 72-500s and one ATR 42-500. Aircraft will be delivered in 2007, allowing TACV to renew its current fleet of three 42-300s while increasing capacity. It currently operates the 42-300s and two 757-200ERs.

Emirates confirmed Sunday that it is the customer for 10 of the 747-8Fs listed by Boeing last week as unidentified (ATWOnline, Oct. 9).

Airbus denied widespread reports that CEO Christian Streiff tendered his resignation to EADS co-CEOs Tom Enders and Louis Gallois last week, and French Prime Minister Dominique de Villepin yesterday backed Streiff in televised comments. European media reported that Streiff, who has been on the job just three months, clashed with Enders and Gallois over the Power8 restructuring plan announced earlier last week that aims to slash Airbus overhead costs by 30% (ATWOnline, Oct. 6).

Rolls-Royce Friday suspended work for a year on the Trent 900 engine that is slated to power more than 65 A380s on firm order by seven airlines. Meanwhile, the first monetary penalty resulting from the latest delay to the A380 program was revealed. The engine-maker said no immediate layoffs are planned. It said it will continue talks with Airbus to determine the full impact of the additional year's delay to the A380 program announced last week (ATWOnline, Oct.

Embraer will deliver fewer planes than predicted this year owing to an ongoing problem with its supply chain and suppliers. "We will deliver 135 aircraft rather than the 145 that we had foreseen," CEO Mauricio Botelho said during a conference call Friday. "We are postponing deliveries of 10 aircraft this year but we are getting the situation under control."

Boeing had another robust week, with orders for an additional 16 747s, four 767s and one 787 listed on its website. The customers are unidentified. ATWOnline understands that 14 of the 747s are dash 8Fs going to two customers while the remaining two are VIP aircraft listed as Boeing BBJs along with the order placed in June for one 747-8 Intercontinental (ATWOnline, June 12). The single 787 also is a BBJ, bringing VIP orders to four. Total orders for the year now stand at 723 net of cancellations.