Kaiser Aluminum signed a long-term contract with Airbus to supply heavy gauge plate for airframe production, adding to a June agreement providing for heat treat aluminum sheet and light gauge plate.

ANA took delivery of the first of 45 737-700s yesterday in Seattle.

Gol announced yesterday that it signed a contract with Boeing to exercise options for five additional 737-800s, increasing the number of firm orders to 65. Aircraft are scheduled for delivery between 2006 and 2012. Gol reached a deal in July to extend its May 2004 737-800 order to 60 firm and 41 options (ATWOnline, July 26).

International Lease Finance Corp. signed a deal with Airbus for 12 A350s one day after confirming an order for 20 787s. ILFC is the airframer's largest customer worldwide, having ordered more than 600 new Airbus aircraft since 1989, and was a launch customer for several models including the A380. The order will include dash 800s and dash 900s and took the combined Airbus and Boeing haul in Dubai to more than $20 billion. "The A350's innovative features combined with operational commonality with existing Airbus fleets. . .[make] it an attractive asset to invest in for the future.

Royal Jordanian Airlines will take delivery of its second Q400 for operation by its new Regional carrier Royal Jordanian xpress. The first Q400 entered revenue service in early November. Air Madagascar took delivery of its second new ATR 72-500 in Dubai.

Plans for Dubai's new Jebel Ali Airport were unveiled at the Dubai Air Show, and if the world's carriers are shaken by the current infrastructure, the new airport will be major earthquake in airline boardrooms.

Airbus bounced back after Boeing's domination of the Dubai Air Show's first day as "air show showman" Vijay Mallya, chairman of UB Group and its Kingfisher Airlines, confirmed the carrier's order for 30 more A320 family aircraft (ATWOnline, Nov. 21).

New version of the A340-500/-600 made a 4.5-hr. maiden flight over Toulouse yesterday as part of a six-month certification campaign. Powered by Trent 500s, the new 380-ton model will fly up to 7,900 nm., carrying the same number of passengers an additional 250 nm., according to Airbus. Qatar Airways will take delivery of the first aircraft next summer. Boeing had more good news from its recent 777-200LR record-breaking flight from Hong Kong to London (ATWOnline, Nov. 11), telling media in Dubai that fuel consumption was 0.9% better that expected.