Boeing, Honeywell's UOP and Mexico's Airports and Auxiliary Services agency, an arm of the Ministry of Communications and Transport, announced last week that they have formed a "collaboration to identify, research and further the development of a commercially viable market for Mexico-sourced sustainable aviation biofuels."

Republic Airways Holdings said it will acquire 10 E-190ARs from US Airways, applying the full balance of its October 2008 $35 million loan to US Airways toward the purchase of the aircraft and assuming the remaining debt on the jets. The loan originally was scheduled to be repaid between this month and October 2011. Four of the 99-seat aircraft are expected to enter service in November and December and will replace 717s being removed from Republic's Midwest Airlines subsidiary. The remaining six are expected to enter service with Republic-owned carriers during the first half of 2010.

Air Saint Pierre took delivery of a new ATR 42-500 that will replace an ATR 42-320 that has been operated by the company for 15 years. Due to the special operating conditions of Saint Pierre and Miquelon, the ATR 42-500 had to be tested and certified to be able to operate in crosswinds reaching up to 45 kt. at takeoff and landing instead of the 30 kt. for which it already was certified, ATR noted.

Qatar Airways CEO Akbar al-Baker said Airbus should offer new engines on its A320s to ward off challenges from Bombardier and stay ahead of Boeing. Speaking to Bloomberg, al-Baker claimed that Pratt & Whitney's PW1000G geared turbofan fitted to the A320 would be "fatal" for Bombardier's CSeries jet, which is slated to enter service in 2013 powered by the same engine (ATWOnline, June 17). Qatar is considering an order for the CSeries and his claims may well be part of the negotiations for a better deal.

Gulf Air took delivery of a new A320, the first of 10 it has on order. They are powered by CFM56s and fitted with 136 seats including 16 in business class. The carrier will add all 10 A320s by the end 2010.