French Polynesian carrier Air Tahiti Nui is preparing for a major upgrade of its long-haul international fleet in 2018, when it will begin the replacement of its Airbus A340s with Boeing 787-9s.

Southwest Airlines has become the first US airline to take delivery of the Boeing 737 MAX 8, an aircraft in which the Dallas-based carrier played a key role in developing.

Alaska Airlines will keep the Airbus A320 fleet it got through its acquisition of Virgin America for at least 10 more years, an executive with the carrier told ATW’s sister publication Aviation Daily.

Las Vegas-based LCC Allegiant Air is in the process of retiring its 43 remaining MD-80s and should see the last ones exiting the fleet in 18 months, an airline executive told ATW’s sister publication Aviation Daily.

Regional aviation suffers from long-standing problems in China, so operators look forward to using larger aircraft.

UTC Aerospace Systems is preparing to open a new nacelle assembly and manufacturing facility in Foley, Alabama, in the coming weeks, which will significantly expand its existing operations there.

The U.S. OEM giant has focused on bigger aircraft for decades, but sees new potential in the under-50-seat market.