Air China said Friday it has reached agreement with Boeing on an order for 20 737-800s to be delivered 2013-15. The Beijing-based carrier revealed the order in a statement to the Shanghai Stock Exchange. It said the order is worth about $1.4 billion at list prices, but noted that it received "a significant price concession" from the manufacturer. CA said the order would increase its capacity by 5%.

Boeing temporarily suspended 787 flight tests Thursday, saying it needed to inspect the Alenia Aeronautica-produced horizontal stabilizers on its five flight test aircraft and all Dreamliners in production owing to a "workmanship issue" that was "recently identified." It insisted that first delivery to ANA in the fourth quarter "remains on track" even as it revealed Friday that some subsequent deliveries would be pushed back slightly for reasons it said were not related to the inspections.

Airbus said A320 family aircraft recently passed the 50-million-flight milestone and have carried 5 billion passengers since entering commercial service in 1988. "One of our A320 family aircraft takes off every six seconds somewhere around the world," COO-Customers John Leahy noted, adding that the manufacturer is "investing at least €100 million [$122.7 million] a year in the A320 family" to improve its efficiency and extend the program's life "for decades to come."

Southwest Airlines Executive VP and COO Mike Van de Ven yesterday called on aircraft manufacturers to develop a new narrowbody aircraft, saying that today's 737NG and A320s are unable to deliver the "step change" in efficiency that the airline industry needs.

Embraer this year will begin to manage all parts and logistics support for its commercial aircraft and executive jets in the Asia/Pacific region from its Regional Distribution Center in Singapore. It said the move "paves the way for the company to be self-sufficient in the management and administration of all parts and logistics support for Embraer's growing fleet of aircraft and customers in Asia/Pacific."