Boeing delivered its 700th 777 Monday, a -300ER leased by Cathay Pacific Airways from ILFC. The lessor has ordered 79 777s since 1992 and has five more scheduled for delivery. CX operates 24 777s, with 23 additional -300ERs to come.

US National Transportation Safety Board said a manufacturing flaw affecting GE CF34-3B1 fan blades made by Teleflex Aerospace Manufacturing Group in Mexico was responsible for two CRJ200 engine failures in the past two years. A July 2006 Air Nostrum flight and a May 2007 Atlantic Southeast Airlines flight each landed safely following a fan blade fracture that in one of the cases led to an engine fire.

China is making final preparations for the launch of its "jumbo aircraft" manufacturing company, which is scheduled to begin operations in Shanghai this month. China's State-owned Assets Supervision and Administration Commission of the State Council will be the controlling shareholder of the new entity (ATWOnline, Jan. 29). Other stakeholders include AVIC I and AVIC II--which will hold the second-largest stake jointly--the Shanghai local government, Baosteel Group and Aluminum Corp. of China.

STG Aerospace reached an MRO deal with Inflite Engineering Services to provide its WEPPS emergency power system to BAe 146/Avro RJ operators. System offers wireless status monitoring and nonrechargeable battery modules.

SAS yesterday announced the launch of an aggressive environmental strategy aimed at reducing carbon dioxide emissions by 20% from 2007 levels by 2020. The airline group said it will reach the target, which assumes passenger growth of 4% annually, by "implementing energy enhancements and mixing jet fuel with renewable sources."