Malaysia Airlines is expected to cancel its A380 commitment, according to an airline source. Speaking to ATWOnline, the source said MAS is close to canceling its order for six aircraft. This website understands from another source in Toulouse that at least one other airline is examining options to cancel its order. Before the delay announced last week by Airbus (ATWOnline, June 14), MAS had been scheduled to take delivery of its first A380 in July 2007 and its sixth in May 2009.

Bombardier said it will stay with the proposed CSeries program at least through this year, with a scaled-back team of engineers working on technology development issues for the 110/130-seat jet and a concerted effort to boost interest in the aircraft from international customers.

Airbus and parent EADS responded to increasing criticism over A380 program delays announced last week, with the focus intensifying on EADS Co-CEO Noel Forgeard's sale of €2.5 million ($3.2 million) in stock options three months prior to EADS' stock sinking 26% on June 14 on news of the next-generation aircraft program's setback. Forgeard, who served as Airbus CEO until last year, told Europe 1 radio that he first learned of potential new problems with the A380 program in April and claimed the stock sale was "an unfortunate coincidence."

Mitsubishi Heavy Industries and Kawasaki Heavy Industries last week unveiled for the first time to media their high-tech fabrication and assembly plants for the 787. MHI is responsible for the wing box while KHI is building the forward fuselage (section 43), fixed trailing edge and components of the wheel well. MHI Director-Program Manager-787 Program Office Takashi Fujimoto showed off the world's largest autoclave, measuring 40 m. by 7 m. in diameter.

ANA last week took delivery of a 777-300ER, a 777-200ER and a 737-700 at a ceremony in Everett.

Boeing denied reports that its 787 program schedule has been affected by a fault in a composite fuselage barrel section. According to Mike Bair, VP and GM-787 program, the fault had been expected owing to a problem with a particular mandrel that developed a flaw. "We knew there was a problem with the mandrel, which we tried to fix but we should have scrapped it," he said.

Air China will purchase 24 A320 family aircraft for $1.74 billion, Reuters reported. The order is part of the deal Airbus signed with Chinese Aviation Supplies Import and Export Group last year for 150 aircraft (ATWOnline, Dec. 6, 2005).

Nigerian startup Arik Air took delivery of two CRJ900s yesterday in Montreal, becoming the first operator of the aircraft in Africa. The order was announced last month (ATWOnline, May 9).