Well, it wasn't a terribly big surprise, but Boeing today formally announced it's going ahead with its first new commercial aircraft line in 13 years. At least, the salesmen can start. Boeing can now make sales proposals to airlines around the world. The company expects those sales proposals to result in firm customer commitments and a production go-ahead, or formal launch, in 2004.

Industry reaction to Boeing's decision to move forward with its 7E7 Dreamliner project was fast and positive. The following is a statement from Aerospace Industries Association President John W. Douglass: The aerospace industry applauds The Boeing Company's decision to proceed with the 7E7 as the next great advance in commercial aviation. This will be a vibrant, far-reaching program that will take the world into the second century of powered flight.

Is it an economizing move in a rough aviation economy or a strong-arm tactic aimed at reining in pilots who demand pay hikes? In either case, it may not happen just yet. Northwest Airlines says it's thinking about putting off until the end of February a decision on taking possession of some 30 Avro RJ85s currently on lease to Mesaba. Coincidentally (or not), that decision comes as Mesaba, which provides regional service for NWA, is deadlocked after two-and-a-half years of contract talks with its pilots.

The UK's national carrier, British Airways, says it's pleased as punch about a decision by the UK government to allow a new runway at Heathrow Airport. Heathrow handles around 64 million passengers a year, making it by far the busiest international airport in the world.

The British government's decision to add runways at both Heathrow and Stansted may be good news for airlines and their passengers, but it already has environmentalists up in arms. Friends of the Earth says the addition of more runways, of course, means the addition of more flights and that, they say, means an increase in the proportion of carbon dioxide attributed to aviation will more than double by the year 2020.

Los Angeles World Airports marks 100 years of aviation progress since the Wright Brothers' first flight and Los Angeles International Airport's (LAX's) 75th anniversary with a Centennial of Flight Festival on Wednesday from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. The day will begin with a commemorative ceremony featuring five historic aircraft types once used to provide commercial passenger service at LAX and the sealing of an aviation-related time capsule. The vintage aircraft will arrive this afternoon (Tuesday) and early Wednesday at the Flight Path Learning Center aviation historical museum in the LAX Imperial Terminal at 6661 West Imperial Highway. The airplanes represent the significant passenger aviation advances of their respective eras. The aircraft are the 1920s-era Ford Tri-Motor, an e