Boeing said design enhancements that increase the short-field performance of the 737NG earned US FAA certification this week after a four-month test program. The improvements allow carriers to fly increased payload at airports with runways shorter than 5,000 ft. and include a two-position tail skid that reduces approach speeds, sealed leading-edge slats for lift and increased spoiler deflection on the ground. The features are standard on the dash 900ER and optional on the dash 600, dash 700 and dash 800. Gol is the launch customer for the short-field performance package.

Airbus parent EADS yesterday reported a €527 million ($663.9 million) second-quarter net profit, down 9% from €582 million in the year-ago quarter, on revenues of €9.9 billion, a 10% rise over last year. It conceded that "operational issues" leading to A380 delivery delays, the A350 redesign and the resignations of top executives at both EADS and Airbus made the second quarter a difficult one.

Boeing yesterday reported a second-quarter net loss of $160 million, a significant decline from net income of $532 million a year ago owing to more than $1 billion in one-time charges related to delays in its Airborne Early Warning & Control surveillance program and a previously announced settlement with the US Justice Dept. in two criminal cases (ATWOnline, June 30).

American Airlines 777 landed safely at New York JFK yesterday after one of its two engines failed, according to press reports. The aircraft was on its way from Los Angeles to London Heathrow and was carrying 239 passengers and 14 crew.

Aegean Airlines ordered three more IAE V2500-powered A320s, bringing its total order for the type to 14 including three leased from ILFC, plus nine options. It signed the initial agreement in December (ATWOnline, Dec. 13, 2005). The new A320s are scheduled to be delivered between January 2007 and April 2009 and will replace older aircraft and be used for expansion on routes from the carrier's Athens and Thessaloniki bases.

EVA Air took delivery of its third 777-300ER, which will seat 316 passengers.

Air Astana of Kazakhstan took delivery of its first leased A320, which it said is the first step in a "major fleet modernization program" that will see it expand its fleet to 34 Western aircraft by 2014. It will take another four A320s this year and purchase six additional aircraft by 2011, including three widebodies in 2008. The airline also operates three 737NGs, four 757-200s and five F50s. It expects to carry 1.4 million passengers this year, up 16.7% from 2005, and 2.3 million in 2007. It is owned by the government of Kazakhstan (51%) and BAE Systems (49%).

Republic Airlines reached a purchase agreement for 30 Embraer 175s, expanding its existing service contract with US Airways and making it the US launch customer for the 86-seat jet. The Regional currently operates 28 170s for US Airways. The 175s, which will be delivered in 2007 and 2008, will be operated under a 12-year capacity purchase contract that stipulates US will continue to supply fuel at no cost to its partner. Republic Airlines is a subsidiary of Republic Airways, the US launch customer for the 170 with 106 firm orders and 75 options for 170s/175s.