Airbus has received authorization to boost A330/A340 production from eight aircraft per month to nine and is contemplating a further increase to 10 owing to the strong sales performance of the A330, COO-Customers John Leahy said yesterday. Speaking to the International Society of Transport Aircraft Trading's 24th annual conference in Phoenix, Leahy said the bump to nine will occur in 2009. Should the company decide to raise it to 10, this could occur at the end of that year, he said.

BAE Systems Regional Aircraft concluded a long-term lease of an additional BAe 146-200 to Romavia. The Romanian carrier also extended the lease on its first -200.

China plans to enter the large aircraft manufacturing fray, announcing yesterday via the official state Xinhua News Agency that the "dream" of challenging Boeing and Airbus with domestically produced jets "is expected to come true by 2020 if everything goes well." Liu Daxiang, deputy head of the Dept. of Science and Technology Development at China Aviation Industry Corp. I, said, "We are now fairly well conditioned for making large aircraft with the sound support from growing national economic strength, technological development and experience in manufacturing."

Difficulties at Airbus "dominated" EADS' full-year results, the European aerospace giant said Friday when it reported a 94% plunge in net earnings to €99 million ($130.3 million), compared to a €1.68 billion profit in 2005, owing to a €572 million operating loss at its commercial aircraft subsidiary.

TAM took delivery Thursday of its fifth A320 this year, bringing its total fleet to 100. It expects to be flying 109 by year end.