Air Transport

Despite a market slowdown, depreciation of key currencies, and limited infrastructure, Vietnam Airlines Group reported a consolidated revenue of VND101.2 trillion ($4.45 billion) for 2019, a 22% year-over-year (YOY) improvement.

Italian LCC Ernest Airlines will temporarily cease operations from Jan. 13 after Italy’s National Civil Aviation Authority (ENAC) suspended its air operator’s certificate (AOC) Dec. 29, 2019.

Aerostructures specialist Latécoère has agreed to acquire Bombardier’s electrical wiring interconnection system (EWIS) assets in Querétaro, Mexico.

With extra Airbus A350s and A220s set to arrive in the coming years, Air France is making progress on simplifying its fleet.

Qingdao city will buy Qingdao Airlines and Nanshan Jet from private Nanshan Group, as Chinese state expands its commercial aviation role.

After a 10-year notice, aircraft operators and owners begin 2020 with the FAA’s mandate for ADS-B equipage in effect.

AIR LEASE CORPORATION finalized previously announced orders for 50 A220-300s, plus 25 options, and an additional 52 A321neos, including 25 A321neos

INTERCARIBBEAN plans in January 2020 to begin Tortola-Punta Cana (EMB 120).

ICELANDAIR further extended 737 MAX cancellations to May 2020. To fill capacity, it says it will keep more 757s in operation in 2020 than originally

ICELANDAIR has secured 5-year, US$30m loan from CIT Bank.

MYANMAR AIRWAYS INTERNATIONAL leased ex-Avianca Brasil A319-100 (5193) with CFM56s from Aviation Capital Group.

AIR KIRIBATI took delivery of its first (029) of two E190-E2s on order; deal includes purchase rights for third/fourth.

WIZZ AIR plans in July to begin Budapest-Prague/-Seville (A321).

HYUNDAI DEVELOPMENT and MIRAE ASSET teamed to acquire controlling stake in ASIANA for KW2,500b (US$2.2b); deal includes AIR BUSAN and AIR SEOUL

Tim Clark, President of Emirates Airline, announced his planned retirement in mid-2020.

BRITISH AIRWAYS says it plans to take delivery of 20 new aircraft in 2020 as part of its 20 New Year resolutions that include adding WiFi and its new

AIRSIAL, Pakistan agreed to lease three used A320-200s (TBA) from AerCap for delivery in 2Q20 for startup out of Sialkot.

Ethiopian Airlines and Boeing are partnering to deliver much-needed aid supplies to organizations across Ethiopia.

South African Airways (SAA) last week operated its first Airbus A350-900 aircraft for the first time commercially in the domestic market.

After the FAA’s 2020 transition to satellite-based navigation, it must tackle complexities of autonomy and commercial spaceflight.

Longtime Boeing general counsel Michael Luttig–and since May the board’s legal strategist on 737 MAX issues–will retire at end of 2019.

HNA Group has again relinquished some of its shareholding in an airline set up to serve local economic development, this time Air Guilin.

Hunan’s government has invested in privately owned Chinese carrier Air Travel, prompting the company to shift its HQ to the province.

COMAC flew the sixth and last C919 prototype on Dec. 27, achieving an unpublished target that had begun to look doubtful.

LOS ANGELES INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT handled 6.7m pax in November, down 3% vs Nov 2018; cargo fell 6.5%.