Airbus yesterday operated the A330-200 freighter's first flight from Toulouse, flying for 4 hr. and reaching 41,000 ft. It expects first delivery to occur next summer to Etihad Crystal Cargo following a 180-hr. flight test program (ATWOnline, Oct. 30). It currently has 67 firm orders from nine customers. In addition, Turkish Airlines has signed an MOU for two of the mid-size cargo aircraft.

Gol is installing ACARS linked to the Iridium satellite network.

Hawaiian Airlines said it completed installation of Aviation Partners Boeing blended winglets on a 767-300. It expects to have winglets installed on eight 767s by next summer. HA estimated that winglets will produce savings of 700-800 gal. of fuel for every round trip between the US West Coast and Hawaii.

Astraeus announced the introduction of its first A320, a former Iberia aircraft on lease from DVB Bank. "Our fleet has traditionally been 100% Boeing, but in leasing and contracting out of our aircraft over the past 18 months under our new business model, we've come across a great deal of operators who want, or need, different options," CCO and Director-Aircraft Leasing Shaun Monnery said.

Turkish Airlines exercised options on three A330s for delivery in 2012 and said it has decided to purchase two A330-200Fs, while Air New Zealand yesterday said it will replace its 15 leased 737-300s with an order for 14 A320s plus 11 purchase rights.