Airbus significantly boosted its long-term projection for commercial aircraft demand in its "2006 Global Market Forecast" released yesterday, predicting that 22,700 new passenger and freighter aircraft valued at $2.6 trillion will be required over the next 20 years, 5,400 more than it predicted just two years ago. Rapid growth in emerging markets like China, India and the Middle East was citied as the main reason for the increase, which boosts the value of commercial aircraft demand through 2025 by $700 billion over the 2004 projection of $1.9 trillion.

Korean Air placed the biggest aircraft order in its history yesterday, signing a purchase agreement valued at $5.3 billion for 10 777-300ERs, five 737-900s/700s, five 747-8Fs and five 777-200Fs.

Kingfisher Airlines and Pratt & Whitney signed a $300 million agreement at a Washington ceremony yesterday covering 10 PW4000-100 engines to power the carrier's five ordered A330s as well as one spare engine, 10 options and an exclusive overhaul and repair program. The deal, first announced at Farnborough, will be worth $500 million if all options are exercised. The US Dept. of Commerce hosted the signing to highlight the growing trade relationship between the US and India and several dignitaries, including FAA Administrator Marion Blakey, were on hand.

Embraer is forecasting a demand for 7,500 jets in the 30/120-seat range over the next 20 years, a market valued at an estimated $220 billion. Of that number, only 1,400 aircraft will have 60 seats or fewer. The forecast maintains that the 30/60-seat segment has "reached maturity," but also indicates that those aircraft will continue to play an important role in both North America and Europe. At the same time, new markets for 50-seaters are expected to develop in China, Mexico and Russia, Embraer said.

Tyrolean Airways installed Rockwell Collins Head-up Guidance Systems on five of its 10 Dash 8-Q400s, making it the second operator to do so worldwide after Horizon Air. The Austrian Airlines subsidiary, which operates as Austrian Arrows, invested up to €400,000 for each aircraft. The remaining Q400s will have HGS next year. Tyrolean is the only carrier that has installed HGS on Q300s. It operates 54 regional aircraft and will add three former Austrian F70s and two F100s to its fleet by next year.