Aircraft News - Europe.

Jul 16, 2007

Airbus, FedEx

Airbus yesterday delivered an A300 freighter to FedEx, the final A300/A310 that the manufacturer will produce. Over the life of the program, which was launched in 1969 with the first aircraft delivered to Air France in 1974, Airbus sold a total of 821 A300s/A310s. About 630 are still in service with approximately 80 operators. The manufacturer said its long-term fleet support program "will continue to enable their operation until the very last aircraft is retired from service, with half of the current fleet expected still to be in service beyond 2025." FedEx operates more than 120 A300Fs/A310Fs, making it the type's largest operator. Jul 13, 2007

Bmi, Airbus

Bmi Buying 10 Airbus Aircraft. British airline bmi said on Tuesday it was buying 10 new Airbus aircraft worth around USD$750 million to expand its medium-haul and long-haul routes from London's Heathrow Airport. Five additional Airbus A330s worth about USD$500 million will join the three it already has, with the first new aircraft expected to be delivered early in 2008. Bmi will also take delivery of five new Airbus A321s valued at USD$250 million to help expand its medium haul network. Jul 10, 2007

Macquarie AirFinance, GATX, Boeing, Airbus

Macquarie AirFinance said it recently completed acquisition of all third-party interests in 25 aircraft owned by five joint venture companies originally established by GATX Corp. In January it acquired third-party interests in another former GATX JV owning four aircraft. The aircraft involved in the recent transaction include 19 Boeing 737-800s, five Airbus A320-200s and one Boeing 757. Jul 13, 2007

Mxi Technologies, Thales

Mxi Technologies said Thales selected Mxi Maintenix software to provide maintenance management for inflight entertainment systems. Jul 13, 2007

OnAir, Air France, bmi, TAP Portugal

OnAir mobile telephony service allows passengers to use their BlackBerry-type devices and mobile phones during flights to send and receive emails and text messages. The service will be launched by Air France, followed by bmi and TAP Portugal. Jul 12, 2007

OnAir, Airbus, SITA

OnAir, the joint venture between Airbus and SITA, a provider of communications and IT infrastructure to the airline industry, has confirmed the European Aviation Safety Authority (EASA) certification for airborne GSM equipment on the Airbus A320 series. For the first time, this will enable airline passengers in Europe to use their BlackBerry-type devices and mobile phones during flights. Jul 12, 2007

Rolls-Royce, ILFC, Boeing

Rolls-Royce announced that ILFC chose the Trent 1000 to power 40 of the 74 Boeing 787s it has an order. The deal is worth $1.3 billion at list prices and supersedes a previous contract covering 10 aircraft that was announced last summer. Rolls said the order represents the largest single purchase it has received from the lessor and that it now has orders and options for more than 500 Trent 1000s from 15 customers. Jul 10, 2007

Royal Brunei Airlines, Boeing, Rolls-Royce

Royal Brunei Airlines will lease four Boeing 787-8s for delivery beginning in late 2009, according to Rolls-Royce, which announced that it reached agreement with the carrier to provide Trent 1000 engines and a long-term TotalCare service accord. Aircraft lessor was not identified. Jul 13, 2007

ZZ

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