Aircraft News - Europe

Air France Announces USD$7 Billion Aircraft Orders. Air France announced a USD$7 billion aircraft order today, split between Airbus and Boeing. The deals include an order for two more A380 superjumbos, the world's largest airliner whose two-year production delays have left manufacturer Airbus facing penalties to airlines. Air France said it had also placed orders for 30 A320-family single-aisle aircraft from Airbus and 18 wide-body 777 long-haul aircraft from Boeing. The Boeing 777 order is designed to help phase out Boeing 747s in the Air France network and includes 5 cargo aircraft. May 24, 2007

Airbus, Avion Aircraft Trading, Icelandair Cargo

Avion Aircraft Trading placed a firm order for eight Airbus A330-200 freighters, increasing its MOU commitment by two. The order follows finalization of a first leasing arrangement with Icelandair Cargo for four A330-200Fs, Airbus said. Deliveries will start in 2010. No engine type was selected. May 25, 2007

Airbus, Boeing

New Kuwaiti Airline Talking To Airbus, Boeing Planned new airline Kuwait National Airways said it is in talks with aircraft makers Airbus and Boeing about its fleet requirements but is yet to make a decision. May 21, 2007

Airbus, EADS

Russia Links EADS Stake To Joint Aircraft Deal. Russia sees no benefit in holding on to its stake in aerospace firm EADS if it does not strike a deal on the joint production of new-generation aircraft, a Kremlin aide said on Monday. May 21, 2007

Airbus, EADS,

Russia sees no benefit in holding on to its stake in aerospace firm EADS, Airbus[sup.1] parent company, if it does not strike a deal on the joint production of new-generation aircraft, a Kremlin aide said on Monday. Russia's state-controlled VTB bank holds a 5 percent stake in EADS. Russia's state-run United Aviation Corporation (UAC) is in talks with EADS on joint production. May 21, 2007

Aircraft Management Solutions

Aircraft Management Solutions, the Amsterdam-based company that develops and distributes the ALCA asset management software application for aircraft and engine lessors, entered a strategic partnership with ADS France, "interfacing the ALCA software with the highly flexible document management and retrieval system of ADS France." May 21, 2007

Alitalia

Alitalia Writes Down Fleet Value, Loss Widens. Alitalia said it has written down the value of its fleet by EUR197 million euros (USD$265.2 million), a move that reduces its value just ahead of its privatization. Alitalia said its net 2006 loss, including the fleet writedown, stood at EUR626 million (USD$842.5 million), EUR458 million (USD$616.4 million) larger than its 2005 net loss. Alitalia has already reported a pre-tax loss for the first quarter of 2007 of EUR146.5 million (USD$197.2 million). In the light of its mounting losses the company said in a statement it would call an extraordinary shareholders' meeting on June 26 and if necessary June 27, to discuss the situation. May 24, 2007

Boeing

Boeing Business Jets and Ocean Sky Aviation today announced an order for a BBJ. Based in London, Ocean Sky is Europe's fastest growing private jet charter company. The new order, worth $51 million at list price, brings the total number of Boeing business jets sold this year to nine. Earlier this week, Boeing Business Jets announced it had won new orders for six BBJs and two 787 VIP airplanes for Hong Kong real-estate tycoon Joseph Lau. The BBJ is the first Boeing business jet for the premier private jet charter company, and will be used to fly Ocean Sky's select clientele to a wide range of worldwide destinations. Premium charter companies represent approximately 10 percent of the Boeing Business Jets customer base. May 24, 2007

GCAT Flight Academy, SAS, GE Aviation

GCAT Flight Academy is the name of the training organization created by the merger of GE Commercial Aviation Training and SAS Flight Academy. STAR Capital Partners acquired SAS Flight Academy outright and purchased 80% of GECAT in a deal it valued at more than $275 million. It said the combination created the largest flight training organization in Europe and the third-largest in the world. May 23, 2007

Rolls-Royce, Airbus, Avion Aircraft Trading

The Rolls-Royce Trent 700 has been selected by Avion Aircraft Trading to power eight Airbus A330-200 freighters in an order worth around $300 million at list prices. Deliveries to the Reykjavik-based leasing company are scheduled to begin in 2010. May 25, 2007

Rolls-Royce, Embraer, Cessna, Saab

Rolls-Royce AE Engine Hits 25 million Hours Milestone. Rolls-Royce, the world-leading provider of power systems and services, has exceeded 25 million hours of service on corporate and regional aircraft with its AE family of engines. The AE 3007 powers the Embraer ERJ 145 family of regional aircraft, the Embraer Legacy 600 business jet and the Cessna Citation X. The AE 2100 powers the high-speed Saab 2000 turboprop aircraft. The AE 3007 engine, which entered service in 1996, has achieved 21 million engine hours on the Embraer ERJ aircraft and 2 million hours in corporate operation with the Cessna Citation X and Embraer Legacy 600 business jets. The AE 2100 has accumulated more than 2 million engine hours in regional turboprop service. There are more than 1200 AE 3007 powered regional and corporate aircraft and more than 50 AE 2100 aircraft in service today. May 22, 2007