China Southern Airlines said in a filing with the Shanghai Stock Exchange that subsidiary Xiamen Airlines will order six Boeing 787s to facilitate its international expansion. The order, which is not yet final, is valued at $1.1 billion at list prices, but the carrier will pay "significantly" below list prices, the filing said. Deliveries are slated for 2014-15. Xiamen GM Che Shanglun said the carrier plans to use the Dreamliners to launch routes to Europe and the US from its Xiamen base and Fuzhou.

Dunlop Aircraft Tyres won a five-year contract with Icelandair Technical Services to supply new tires and provide retreading for a fleet of 16 Icelandair aircraft and 12 757-200s "flown by airlines in the Nordics and Russia," it said.

Rolls-Royce announced that the Trent 1000 for Boeing's 787 received 330-min. ETOPS approval from US FAA. "ETOPS approval marks a major milestone for the Trent 1000 program," Program Director Simon Carlisle said in a statement, adding, "We now look forward to supporting Boeing's own ETOPS program." The Trent 1000 recently passed 2,800 hr. of flight testing.

Flydubai has inked an eight-year sale/leaseback agreement with MC Aviation Partners, securing $80 million in financing for the remaining Boeing 737-800NG the airline is due to receive this year. FZ will soon issue an RFP for the airline’s 2012 financing requirements. This will be the carrier’s 10th new 737-800NG aircraft, its final one to be delivered this year.

Boeing is considering a major upgrade or replacement for the 777 as well as the launch of the 787-10, according to a Buckingham Research Group report issued after Boeing Capital Corp.'s investor conference last week. "Upgrade options [for the 777] include a new composite wing, a composite fuselage, upgraded avionics, and new engines," said New York-based Buckingham. According to the firm, Boeing is looking at a 2020 timeframe for a 777 upgrade as it believes Airbus will be delayed in delivering the A350-1000.