Air France could be a launch customer for Boeing's proposed 777 freighter and is considering placing an order for seven of the new aircraft. The airline did not comment on a report in French financial daily La Tribune but confirmed that the 777F is its preferred option to replace part of its aging fleet of 747Fs. AF currently has eight 747-200Fs and four dash 400ERFs in operation, with one 747-200F due to leave the fleet shortly.

Lauda Air added two former Austrian Airlines A320s to its fleet for the coming summer season.

AirAsia, winner of ATW's 2005 Market Leadership Award, signed a purchase contract for up to 100 A320s including 60 firm orders and 40 options. This is an increase of 20 aircraft over the carrier's original order placed late last year for 40 firm A320s and 40 options (ATWOnline, Dec. 17), underscoring its aggressive market growth plans.

China Eastern Airlines Jiangsu Ltd. yesterday placed an order with Embraer Harbin for five ERJ-145s, marking the second order the company has secured with a Chinese airline. "We are very pleased to welcome the ERJ-145 to our fleet," China Eastern President and CEO Su Guoxin said. "It is a very attractive aircraft that will fit in very well with our existing fleet and route structure."

Air New Zealand reached agreement with Boeing to install the Boeing Electronic Flight Bag on its 777s and 787s. ANZ will have an EFB system installed, certified and delivered on the eight 777-200ERs it has on order, and also will receive EFBs on the two 787s it has ordered.

Singapore Aircraft Leasing Enterprise inked a deal to purchase up to 40 737NGs from Boeing, comprising 20 firm orders and 20 purchase rights. Deliveries are scheduled to begin in the fourth quarter of next year and continue through 2009. SALE said it has specified the 737-800 as the baseline aircraft for the order but under terms of the deal can convert options and purchase rights to the 737-700 or the proposed 737-900X. All aircraft will be powered by CFM56-7B engines.

First new IL-76 freighter designed to meet ICAO noise and emissions standards will begin flight testing in June before entering service with Volga-Dnepr Group in September, the company announced. Designated the IL-76TD-90VD, the aircraft is fitted with Perm PS-90A-76 engines at a cost of $4.3 million each. It is being built at Tashkent's TAPO aircraft plant under a joint program involving Volga-Dnepr, Ilyushin Aviation Corp., Perm and TAPO.

General Electric said yesterday that it has frozen the design for the GEnx engine that will power both the 787 and A350. Called Tollgate 6 in GE nomenclature, completing this stage in the development process launches the detailed design phase. Also, fabrication of components is underway, leading to assembly of the first full engine in October. The first GEnx goes to test in 2006, with certification set for 2007. It will produce 55,000-75,000 lb. of thrust.