Saudi Arabian Airlines became the first Middle East customer for the Embraer 170 with a firm order for 15. The contract, which will be signed in Riyadh, is valued at $400 million. The 170s will be configured with 66 seats, including six in first class. Deliveries are scheduled to begin in December. The aircraft will be deployed in domestic and regional markets, adding frequencies on existing routes and developing minihubs at Hail City in the north and Abha in the south, according to airline officials.

Boeing selected the GEnx engine to power its proposed 747ADV, GE announced.

Several Chinese airlines formalized agreements with Airbus for 30 aircraft. As previously announced, China Southern Airlines completed a deal to buy five A380s (ATWOnline, Jan. 31). China Eastern placed an order for five A319s, 11 A321s and four A320s, while Shenzhen Airlines signed with China Aviation Supplies Import & Export Group Corp. and Airbus for three A320s and two A319s.

Boeing named four suppliers of key interior elements for the 787. Diehl Luftfahrt Elektronik will provide the main cabin lighting, while lavatories will be supplied by Jamco. In addition, Northwest Composites, an affiliate of C&D Aerospace, will supply sidewalls, window reveals, cargo linings, door linings and door surrounds and Securaplane will furnish the wireless emergency lighting system.

ATA Holdings Corp. said it was advised by Indianapolis-based real estate investment and management firm Okun Enterprises that it has terminated its commitment to purchase ATA's Chicago Express Airlines operation and two Saab 340Bs. Okun was selected as the winning bidder earlier this month (ATWOnline, April 4). ATA said it will proceed with the next highest bidder but did not disclose who that is. However, media reports have identified it as CSC Investment Group.

Sources in Chicago told ATWOnline that Boeing possibly may launch the 747ADV without a passenger version at this stage. VP-Marketing VP Randy Baseler would not comment specifically on the model's launch criteria but told this website that he is "positive on a launch." He said Boeing would like to have a passenger version commitment but would not elaborate further on whether it would launch with cargo-only operators. Airlines have been pressing the manufacturer to commit to the derivative, but some are coy on committing hard cash to the project just yet.

Boeing named Stork Fokker AESP to its team designing the structure of the new 747 Large Cargo Freighter. Specifically, Stork Fokker will collaborate on design of the aircraft's all-new pressure bulkhead.

Flyglobespan put its first Blended Winglet-equipped 737-800 into service on a flight from Glasgow to Las Palmas. Its next winglet-equipped 737-800 will enter service later this month and the airline said it is considering installing winglets on its existing fleet of 737-600s as well.