Air Transport

Al-Shahbab militants have stepped up anti-aircraft attacks in the Bay area of Somalia close to the Ethiopian and Kenyan borders. The latest attack on a transport aircraft on approach to Diinsoor Airport was reported yesterday.

REPUBLIC OF SERBIA increased its stake in AIR SERBIA from 51% to 82% as part of recapitalization to combat COVID-19 crisis. ETIHAD now owns 18%.

Algernon Yau Ying-wah to Chief Executive Officer of Greater Bay Airlines, China.

AIR CANADA closed previously announced public offering of 35.4m Class A/B voting shares, grossing about C$850m (SPNWS; Dec 18).

TUIFLY NORDIC has received 737-800 (38107; leased from Aviation Capital Group) from TUI Airways, UK.

FLIGHTAWARE reports 42.2% year-over-year decline in global flight activity during 10-day Christmas holiday period.

AEROMEXICO cited progress in union negotiations to combat COVID-19 crisis.

MESA AIR GROUP amended its CPA with American to add five CRJ 900s by end of 1Q21, increasing total fleet to 45 CRJ 900s.

US TSA screened 1.28m pax on Dec 27 (highest volume since start of pandemic).

CHINA POSTAL AIRLINES leased 737-800BCF (30686; ex-Shanghai Airlines) from AerCap.

CHINA UNITED AIRLINES wet-leased three A330-300s (1788/1798/1801) from China Eastern for four routes out of Beijing.

VOLARIS, Mexico sold first (10208) of four GTF-powered A320neos to ALAFCO, and leased it back.

AERO K, South Korea received AOC to launch with ex-Virgin A320-200 (3135).

CIRIUM says COVID-19 pandemic and its consequences wiped out 21 years of global passenger traffic growth, reducing 2020 traffic to levels last seen in

PASSIONAIR, Ghana leased ex-Regional One Dash 8-300 (216) from Avmax, Canada. It also operates Dash 8-400 (4052).

ALITALIA received EC approval for €73.02m state aid package to compensate airline for damages suffered on 19 routes from COVID-19 pandemic.

VOLGA-DNEPR AIRLINES resumed An-124-100 operations after completing all technical inspections and SBs on first aircraft.

AIRASIA GROUP disposed of 32.67% of its equity shares in AIRASIA INDIA (30 A320s), reducing stake to 16.33%.

UPS took delivery of fifth new 747-8F (65782) and fifth new 767-300ERF (65909) in 2020 from Boeing (SPNWS; Nov 20).

AMERICAN restarted 737 MAX service (Miami-LaGuardia; first in US) on Dec 29; it currently has operational fleet of five MAXs.

EMIRATES took delivery of final two A380-800s (264/267) for 2020 (SPNWS; December 11). It has five remaining on order.