EADS co-CEO and Airbus CEO Louis Gallois said he believes China likely will be capable of building A320-size aircraft by 2020. Regarding the country's claim that it intends to build "jumbo aircraft" (ATWOnline, April 10), Gallois told ATWOnline last week in Toulouse that "The technology level of China is improving every day. . .They are moving very fast. When they say 2020, why not?

American Airlines is the launch customer for 767-300ER blended winglets produced by Aviation Partners Boeing (ATWOnline, April 25), the airline announced. AA will remove an aircraft from service and lease it to APB for an eight-month flight test certification program beginning in January. It then intends to install winglets on each of its 58 -300ERs by the middle of 2010.

Pratt & Whitney signed a five-year agreement with UK-based cargo carrier MK Airlines to upgrade its JT9Ds with Pratt durability kits starting next month. The 36 upgrades are valued at more than $84 million. The JT9D-7Q technology upgrade includes new first- and second-stage turbine blades and vanes and a new second-stage turbine lenticular seal.

Airbus plans to ramp up production of A320 family aircraft to a rate of 34 per month by March 2008, and likely to 40 per month by 2010 with help from a Chinese assembly line, to take advantage of rising sales.

Boeing last week released details of orders from Arik Air, S7 Airlines and SpiceJet (ATWOnline, April 27) and announced that the 737-900ER earned type certification from US FAA. The Arik Air order for three 787-9s, two 777-200LRs and two 777-300ERs previously was listed as being from an unidentified customer and is worth $1.5 billion at list prices. The deal was announced simultaneously with the delivery of two new 737-700s. The Nigerian airline is the fourth from Africa to order both the 787 and 777.