Omni Air International, based in Tulsa, Okla., announced it has received US FAA approval to operate Boeing 777-200ER aircraft, including 180-minute ETOPS authority. It is the first US registered non-scheduled airline to operate the aircraft type in passenger service. It said it will add a second aircraft to the certificate in mid-July.

New York-based Bernstein Research said Boeing is closer to resolving the weight reduction challenges of the 787-9, which will lead to a compelling 787-10. In a client report, Bernstein said that Boeing leadership now believes it can "launch a 787-10 stretch (potentially going as high as 335 seats) that would have a range greater than 6,000 n.m., without requiring a redesign of the main gear or extensive changes to the wing."

Cathay Pacific Airways CEO John Slosar told ATW in Sydney that the airline will examine the viability of very large aircraft for its network over the next two years.

Braathens Leasing Limited, a subsidiary of Braathens Aviation of Sweden, placed a firm order for five Bombardier CSeries100s and five CSeries300s valued at $635 million at list prices, providing a boost to the Canadian manufact.urer's narrowbody aircraft program

ATR said Tuesday it received EASA certification for its ATR 72-600. Flight testing began in the summer 2009 and delivery of the first aircraft will occur this summer to Royal Air Maroc, which ordered four ATR 72-600s and two ATR 42-600s. Since launching the ATR 42-600 and ATR 72-600 programs in October 2007, ATR has received orders for a total of 141 aircraft in the series.