Cimber Air added its eighth and ninth CRJ200s. The aircraft, leased directly from Bombardier, will stay in the fleet indefinitely. One will operate Cimber's new Copenhagen-Norrkoping route and the other will be marketed for charter services.

Embattled EADS Co-CEO Noel Forgeard and Airbus CEO Gustav Humbert resigned Sunday under pressure from EADS shareholders Lagardere Group, DaimlerChrysler and the French government (ATWOnline, June 29).

Air Caledonie took delivery an ATR 42-500, the first of an order for three ATR aircraft that also includes two 72-500s. It was signed last fall (ATWOnline, Sept. 5, 2005). The airline will take delivery of the ATR 72-500s at the end of 2006 and in 2007, replacing three ATR 42-320s.

Boeing announced it will record $915 million-$1.1 billion in charges in the second quarter related to delays in its Airborne Early Warning & Control surveillance program for Australia and Turkey and a previously announced settlement with the US Justice Dept. from criminal cases involving its hiring of a former Air Force weapons purchaser and its acquisition of proprietary information belonging to Lockheed Martin. Reuters reported that the charges likely will wipe out the company's second-quarter profit, which analysts forecast at $967 million before interest and taxes.

AeroMexico will lease three 787-8s from International Lease Finance Corp., with deliveries beginning in 2010. The aircraft will replace 767s on leases set to expire and will be used on flights to Europe and Asia. ILFC has 20 787s on firm order. AeroMexico recently took delivery of two 777-200ERs. "With similar speeds, mission capabilities and cockpit commonality, the combination of the 787 with the 777 will provide AeroMexico with optimum fleet flexibility on long-range missions," said Boeing Commercial Airplanes VP-Sales, Latin America and the Caribbean John Wojick.

ExpressJet took delivery of its 275th ERJ under a contract signed 10 years ago with Embraer. The Regional operates a fleet of ERJ-135s/-145s under a codeshare agreement with Continental Airlines. In January, CO notified its partner that it would take 69 aircraft out of service after the two sides failed to reach a financial deal on their continued deployment. ExpressJet CEO Jim Ream plans to retain the aircraft, which are leased from CO, in hopes of finding another suitable partner (ATWOnline, May 8).

VarigLog deposited an additional $1.8 million Tuesday and Wednesday to keep Varig afloat, according to press reports, while a Rio de Janeiro bankruptcy court, prosecutors and creditors analyzed the freight and logistics company's $500 million bid for the airline (ATWOnline, June 28).

Alaska Airlines yesterday introduced the first of five 737-400 converted freighters to its cargo fleet. The conversion was performed by Pemco World Air Services and is the first for the type, Alaska said. The aircraft replaces a 737-200F. Remaining aircraft, which will be converted into combis, will enter service by the end of 2007 as part of a $100 million expansion and modernization of its cargo operation. It will retire seven dash 200Fs. The dash 400 fleet will increase freight capacity by 20%.