Telair International will design, manufacture and supply the full Supplier Furnished Equipment cargo loading system for the A330-200, A330-300 and A340-300 lower deck. Installation is scheduled to begin by March 2008.

Skybus Airlines, a proposed low-fare startup, ordered CFM56-5Bs to power the 65 A319s it ordered last fall (ATWOnline, Oct. 27, 2006). The deal is worth $750 million at list prices, according to Safran Group. Engines will be Tech Insertion models. Skybus expects to take delivery of its first aircraft in late 2008 and commence flying from Columbus, Ohio, the following spring.

Airbus announced that CIT Group signed a firm order in December for five A330s and 10 A320 family aircraft. To date, CIT has ordered 112 A320 family aircraft, 25 A330s and five A350s; 73 have been delivered.

Kuwait Airways is preparing for a major fleet renewal. According to the Arab Air Carriers Organization, KU is negotiating with both Airbus and Boeing to buy up to 34 aircraft and expects formal proposals from the manufacturers in the next few weeks. It currently operates three A320s, two A310-300s, five A300-600s, four A340-300s and two 777-200s.

Aeroflot is committed to phasing out its remaining Tu-134 and Tu-154 aircraft by 2010, according to press reports. Fourteen Tu-134s are scheduled to leave the fleet this year and be replaced by A320s and Sukhoi RRJs. The Tu-134 served the carrier for approximately 40 years. Aeroflot Chairman and CEO Valery Okulov told this website in November that Aeroflot's fleet plan calls for 65 A320 family aircraft and 30 RRJs on its short- and medium-haul network (ATWOnline, Nov. 22, 2006). It currently operates 88 aircraft.