Boeing selected Pfalz-Flugzeugwerke to provide metallic tubing and ducting for the 787, including the design and manufacture of tubes for the fluid supply for the hydraulic systems. PFW selected strategic partner Garner CAD Technic to assist with the design of the tubing elements.

Air New Zealand delayed by one week an announcement that is expected to involve more orders for 777s and 787s. Last year it ordered eight 777-200ERs and two 787s and took price rights and options on 42 more 777/787s. Last month, retiring CEO and MD Ralph Norris told ATWOnline that ANZ had to move on the options because of "high demand" for the types.

Indonesian government banned the operation of 737-200s owing to "safety concerns" in the wake of last month's Mandala Airlines crash. At the same time, the government banned all aircraft more than 35 years old and/or with more than 70,000 cycles. The crash was the eighth involving Mandala since 1975 and there have been 74 crashes involving transport aircraft in Indonesia since 1990.

Malaysia Airlines deferred by three months a decision on the choice of aircraft to replace its 39 737-400s. The order was to have been announced by Sept. 30. Thai International announced that it will replace its four MD-11s with A340-600s. The MD-11s will leave the fleet by March.

Austrian Airlines, as previously reported (ATWOnline, Oct. 3), ordered a 777-200ER for delivery in late 2006, Boeing confirmed. Aircraft is valued at $181 million at list prices. At the same time, Austrian canceled a previous order for a 737. Engine selection for the 777 was not announced, but Austrian's three in-service 777s are powered by GE90s.

Airbus received formal approval from its shareholders, EADS and BAE Systems, yesterday for industrial launch of the A350 on the basis of 140 "firm order commitments" from nine customers, one of which is unidentified. In Washington, Airbus COO Charles Champion said the company is "confident" it will reach 200 commitments by year end, while Executive VP-Procurement Henri Courpron said that all 200 will be firmed within the same timeframe.

Russia lifted the ban on operation of Il-96-300 passenger jets, which were grounded for safety checks in August after problems with the braking system. Aeroflot, which has six of the 13 widebodies in use, or 40% of its long-haul fleet, said on Monday it will comply with the decision straight away. According to Reuters, first flights were scheduled for Tuesday to Shanghai and New Delhi. Aeroflot plans to acquire 12 A320s and 2-5 767s, it said last week. The Boeing planes are likely to be acquired in about a year.

EADS board is scheduled to meet Thursday to decide whether to support the launch of the A350, Les Echos reported last week. It noted that Oct. 6 is the last day of an agreement signed in 1992 between the US and EU that authorizes the four European state Airbus shareholders--Britain, France, Germany and Spain--to provide interest-free loans equaling up to 33% of the development costs of the program. The A350 program is worth more than €4.5 billion. To date Airbus has received agreements to purchase 110 aircraft and expects this to grow to 200 by year end.