Virgin Atlantic and aircraft maker Boeing signed an extensive partnership which includes the largest order yet by a European airline for Boeing’s new 787 Dreamliner. Virgin Atlantic is ordering 15 of the 787-9 Dreamliners -with options on ordering another eight 787-9s and purchase rights on a further 20 aircraft.

Spirit Airlines launched its nonstop, year-round service from Fort Lauderdale to St. Maarten Friday on an Airbus A319 aircraft christened “The Spirit of St. Maarten/St. Martin.”

Air Canada has exercised existing options to buy rights for 23 Boeing 787s, bringing its total firm orders for the aircraft to 37 from 14 originally announced, the company said last week.

Ryanair has announced three new routes from its base in Stockholm to Alghero (Sardinia), Marseille and Venice. Ryanair now operates 448 low fare routes to 131 destinations.

The Venezuelan airline Avior is seeking Transportation Department permission to begin service between Valencia, Venezuela, and Miami as soon as May 1. Avior’s request probably won’t go anywhere until American gets Venezuelan approval for its own proposed service on the same route.

Zoom Airlines will introduce low-cost direct flights between London Gatwick and Bermuda and will become the first to compete with British Airways on the route since 1967 –breaking the longest-running monopoly on any air route in the world according to the carrier.