Kaiser Aluminum signed a long-term deal with Boeing to supply heavy gauge aluminum plate.

Boeing selected PPG Aerospace to provide electrochromic windows for the 787 passenger cabin. The windows can be tinted electronically, eliminating the need for shades. PPG said the 787 will be the first commercial aircraft to use the technology. The deal will be worth about $50 million to PPG over the first five years.

Cathay Pacific signed a $2.85 billion purchase agreement for 12 777-300ERs plus 20 options yesterday, finalizing an order it placed earlier this month (ATWOnline, Dec. 2). It will begin taking delivery of the GE90-115BL2-powered aircraft in September 2007. The deal also includes four leased 777-300ERs from ILFC.

Transaero of Russia added a second 747-200 to its fleet.

Boeing selected Evergreen International Airlines to operate the fleet of three specially modified 747-400LCFs that will transport major assemblies for the 787. EIA will fly routes to and from the US and Japan and will contract with Cargolux for European flights. Sojitz Corp. will coordinate logistics and services for Japanese routes.

ANA and Japan Airlines will remove high-pressure turbine blades from 88 PW4000s powering their respective 777 fleets. JAL will spend ¥4.3 billion ($36.8 million) to replace HPTs in 46 engines while ANA will replace blades in 42 engines for ¥5.2 billion, Mainichi Daily News reported. Pratt & Whitney has been working with operators for some time to address the problem with the blades, which are subject to corrosion.

Korean Air selected the GEnx to power the 20 787s it ordered earlier this year. The deal is worth more than $240 million, according to GE, which will deliver the engines beginning in 2009.

Qantas is set for the most aggressive expansion in its history after revealing plans to acquire up to 115 787s valued at almost $15 billion at list prices for its mainline brand and the launch of its new long-haul, value-based product Jetstar International.