The mystery surrounding the identity of the purchaser of the 30 787s placed on Boeing's website last week has deepened. The Seattle Post-Intelligencer reported this week that a Boeing source indicated the order was from a non-US customer. However, other sources at Boeing told ATWOnline that may not be the case (ATWOnline, April 16).

CIT Aerospace ordered five 737-700s valued at approximately $295 million at list price, bringing its firm 737 backlog to 10. It also has five 787s on order. It previously has taken delivery of 31 737NGs.

AVIC I Commercial Aircraft Co. revealed its ambition to explore the US as a potential market for its ARJ21 regional jet, with VP Chen Jin noting that a new FAA office in Shanghai, established last month, will help CAAC to conduct airworthiness certification of the aircraft this October.

Claiming it "is assuming again the leadership in fleet modernization," Lufthansa yesterday announced a commitment for 15 CRJ900s and took over commitments for 30 Embraer regional jets from Swiss International Air Lines, now an LH subsidiary.

EADS Elbe Flugzeugwerke of Dresden delivered an A300-600 converted freighter to China Eastern Airlines (ATWOnline, Feb. 17, 2006). The conversion started in late December. A second A300-600F for CEA is undergoing conversion with the third scheduled for September.