CR Airways, a Hong Kong charter airline, said it agreed to buy 10 787s and 30 737-800s in a deal worth approximately $3 billion, according to media reports.

Air New Zealand said it will proceed with plans to outsource heavy maintenance of widebody engines but has deferred until February a decision on the future of its widebody airframe MRO activity amid signs it may be able to reach accommodation with its engineering union to keep the work in-house. Sending the engine work offshore next year will result in elimination of around 110 jobs. Outsiders already perform engine MRO on ANZ's narrowbody jets and turboprops.

Air China Cargo took delivery of the first of two new 747-400Fs on Friday. It is powered by Pratt & Whitney 4056s.

Turkish Airlines took delivery of the first of five A330-200s on order and the first of 19 A320s last week. It also will add 12 A321s to its fleet.

MTU Aero Engines appointed Rainer Martens to a three-year board of management term and extended CFO Reiner Winkler's contract until 2011.

A twin-engine Grumman G-73T Turbine Mallard turboprop seaplane operated by Chalks Ocean Airways crashed into the water shortly after takeoff from Miami yesterday afternoon, killing at least 19. Twenty people (18 passengers, two crewmembers) reportedly were on the aircraft bound for the Bahamas. The Port of Miami was shut down after the crash and ships were diverted so as not to interfere with the recovery operation. A National Transportation Safety Board investigative team was scheduled to arrive in Miami last night.

Cathay Pacific took delivery of its first 747-400 Boeing Converted Freighter yesterday in Xiamen. The aircraft will enter service tomorrow. Cathay launched the Boeing passenger-to-freighter conversion program in January 2004 with an order for six firm conversions and options for a further six.

Japan Airlines is the customer for five 777-300ERs and a 767-300F that previously were listed on the Boeing orders website as unidentified.