Air Transport

Delta Airlines CEO Ed Bastian said management expects delivery of 80 new aircraft in 2020, as the Atlanta-based carrier looks to replenish its aging fleet of more than 900 aircraft.

BOEING is now estimating return to service of 737 MAX in mid-2020.

AIR CENTURY, Dominican Republic purchased ex-Air Georgian CRJ200 (8047) from Avmax, and now has three CRJ200s.

GA TELESIS, as Structuring Agent, negotiated purchase and arranged financing for 10 Boeing narrowbodies on behalf of an unidentified major US airline.

LINK PNG, Papua New Guinea leased ex-Republic Dash 8-400 (4196) from Nordic Aviation Capital.

US DOT says US scheduled pax airlines employed 452,668 full-time equivalent (FTE) workers in November, up 2.9% vs Nov 2018.

BELL BOEING completed first flight of CMV-22B Osprey for US NAVY.

Low-cost startups often begin with older aircraft to minimize investment. But older aircraft are maintenance-hungry and can limit programs. So

Singapore Airlines (SIA) and All Nippon Airways (ANA) are holding discussions regarding a potential joint venture agreement between the two carriers, according to two major Asian media outlets.

While Air France-KLM appears to have held discussions with Malaysia Airlines’ owners, it has rejected speculation that it is bidding to buy a major stake in the Malaysian carrier.

South African Airways is canceling some international flights and consolidating services on its domestic network in a bid to conserve cash.

The Chinese health authority has reported a threefold spike in confirmed cases of the Wuhan pneumonia, now known as the Wuhan coronavirus, prompting tighter actions from air travel stakeholders around the globe.

EASYJET posted £1.425b revenues for first quarter ended December 31, up 9.9% from a year ago; revenue per seat rose 8.8% on 2.8% more enplanements on

INTERJET AIRLINES, Mexico reported year-over-year traffic growth of 9.4% in 2019; international traffic rose 25.9%.

Luis Felipe de Oliveira retired as Executive Director and Chief Executive Officer of ALTA, Panama; no successor has been named.

JIANGXI AIRLINES took delivery of its first ARJ21-700 (130) from COMAC; it has ordered five.

AUSTRIAN took delivery of ex-Avianca Brasil A320-200 (5278) on lease from Aviation Capital Group (SPNWS; July 26).

CITILINK, Indonesia leased second new A330-900 (1870) from Avolon; both aircraft were originally slated for WOW air.

AIR GREENLAND says it has ordered one A330-800 for delivery in 2021 for growth; it currently operates one A330-200.

TURKISH AIRLINES plans February 7 to begin three-times-weekly Istanbul-Port Harcourt-Malabo, Ecuatorial Guinea (737).

Boeing is conducting taxi and final system tests of the 777-9 at its Everett, Washington site where, depending on weather and other factors, it hopes to conduct the long-awaited first flight of its new long-range 777X flagship family as early as Jan. 23.

DAE secured 4-year, US$300m unsecured term loan with China Construction Bank to support future financing needs.

INTERCARIBBEAN AIRWAYS leased ex-SATENA ATR 42-500 (621) from Gladiator Leasing; Airstream International arranged.

AERGO CAPITAL reports in 4Q19 (and early January) it acquired three aircraft (two A321s/one 737-800) and sold six (two A330-300s/two 737NGs/A320/A321)

Air Greenland has ordered one Airbus A330-800neo, its largest investment ever.