Airbus expects its A350 program to be profitable from 2019 before becoming a prime source of profits. Airbus has firm orders for 780 A350s from about 40 airlines around the world.

Airbus is steadily building A350 production towards a rate of five aircraft per month by end of 2015, as it works towards its target rate of 10 aircraft per month by 2018.

COMAC (China) ARJ21-700 is set to receive its Type Certification from the CAAC by end of 2014, ending its 12-year airworthiness review process.

Sukhoi Civil Aircraft (Russia) is negotiating with India on opportunities for industrial cooperation, including customization of SSJ100 aircraft by Indian enterprises.

Pakistan International Airlines B747s reportedly banned by Saudi CAA from entering in the kingdom as landing rights expired on 30 November 2014.

Air China announced that its parent China National Aviation Holding Company completed its plan of buying a 0.01% stake or 1.01 million shares in the airline, raising its stake in carrier to 53.3%.

AVIC International Holding (China) shares rose 44% as 9.74% stake in company was bought by Li Ka-shing via Cheung Kong Holdings (China).

Etihad (UAE) completes investment and acquires 49% equity stake in new Alitalia (Italy). New company to be fully operational with effect from 01 January 2015.

Air India will not get US$113.6 million in current fiscal, which is mainly being used to repay loans.

Aldus Aviation (Ireland) announced pricing of US$540 million asset backed secured Term Loans for ATLAS 2014-1 Limited and ATLAS 2014-1 LLC. Net proceeds will be used by ATLAS, a newly established special purpose vehicle, to fund the acquisition of 30 Embraer aircraft from Aldus and the secondary market.

Allegiant Travel (US) is taking a US$43.2 million write-down on the value of its B757 fleet, effective in 4Q 2014. The B757 fleet will be held for a period less than their current expected useful lives, which is currently seven years or through 2021.

China Eastern Air Holding, China Eastern Airlines and CES Finance Holdings (China) signed a triple-party agreement on an injection of US$61.1 million into CES Finance (China).

Adria Airways (Slovenia) to launch flights from Munich to Bratislava in 2015, with CRJ700, serial 10063, leased from Lufthansa CityLine (Germany).

Aeroflot (Russia) took delivery of 14th SSJ100, serial 95076, transferred to carrier on new financial lease with Sberbank Leasing (Russia).

Air India plans to introduce five new A320s into its fleet from February 2015, with a tender issued for lease of 14 more A320s in 2015 onwards.

Air India revealed plans to introduce one B747-400, one B777-200LR and one B777-300ER into its domestic network in December 2014. Carrier will also take delivery of an additional B787-8, which will initially be deployed on services within India.

Automatic (US) purchased from Lufthansa (Germany) one 1991 B737-500, serial 24821, equipped with two CFM56-3B1 engines.

Automatic (US) sold to C&G Engines (US) one 1991 vintage B737-500, serial 24821, equipped with CFM56-3B1 engines.

Avolon (Ireland) firmed up its contract with Airbus for 15 A330neo. Aircraft are scheduled for delivery from 2018 onwards.

AWAS (Ireland) delivered additional new A320 on lease to Spring Airlines (China). Aircraft comes from AWAS’ existing pipeline order with the manufacturer.

Azerbaijan Airlines took delivery from Boeing of its first B787.

China Southern Guizhou Branch took delivery of B737-800, serial 38934, its 16th B737.

China Southern took delivery of its fifth B777-300ER, serial 43223, the fifth of 10 on order.

CIT Aerospace (US) delivered B737-800, serial 22926, to Enter Air (Poland). Aircraft is powered by CFM56-7B engines and is the third aircraft CIT delivered to the airline.

Edelweiss Air (Switzerland) plans to return A330-300, serial 1355, to parent SWISS in April 2015.

EuroAtlantic Airways (Portugal) announced the position of its B767-300ERF at Brussels National airport as part of a trade agreement signed with Magma Aviation (UK).

Jetscape Aviation Group (US) acquired two 2008-vintage E190s, serials 19000197 and 19000206, from Republic Airways Holdings (US), which were delivered on long-term leases to Aeromexico Connect (US). Jetscape’s financing was provided by DVB Bank (Germany).

Juneyao Airlines (China) leases A320-200, serial 6392, from China Aircraft Leasing.

Korean Air completes ECA-backed Euro financing for three Airbus aircraft just delivered.

Kuwait Airways finalized order with Boeing for 10 B777-300ERs, valued at US$3.3 billion at list prices.

Pegasus Asia (Kyrgyzstan) took delivery of its first B737-800, serial 38178.

Phoenix Aircraft Leasing (Singapore) purchased two ATR72-500s, serials 858 and 875, from Berjaya Air (Malaysia), for onward lease or sale.

Qatar Airways may be in the market for more A380s, with decision as early as late 2015.

Qatar Airways took delivery of its fourth A380, alongside its first A350 XWB.

Saudia commissioned its new B777-300ER at King Abdulaziz International Airport in Jeddah.

SMBC Aviation Capital (Ireland) delivered one new A320 on lease to Spirit Airlines (US), the fourth delivery of a four aircraft sale/leaseback transaction.

SMBC Aviation Capital (Ireland) delivered one new A320-200 on lease to Spring Airlines (China). Aircraft is part of the lessor’s direct order book.

SMBC Aviation Capital (Ireland) signed agreement with Aeromexico to extend two B737-700s, one of which is a managed asset.

SMBC Aviation Capital (Ireland) signed agreement with American Airlines (US) to extend one A319 and one A320, one of which is a managed asset.

Sukhoi Civil Aircraft (Russia) is going to offer competitive prices for SSJ100 thanks to state guarantees. Mechanism for provision of the residual value guarantees will help decrease risks for lessors.

Turkish Airlines decided to exercise options for eight A321-200neos for delivery in 2019. Carrier to also convert four firm orders of A320-200neo to be delivered in 2016 to four A321-200neo to be delivered in 2021.

Boeing MRO facility in Nagpur, which is set to be operated by Air India, will be operational by 2Q 2015.

Air India CMD Rohit Nandan was granted extension till August 2015, ending a phase of uncertainty in the national carrier which is going through a process of financial restructuring.

Airfinance Events (UK) to host “4th Annual Japan Airfinance Conference” on 16 – 17 April 2015 in Tokyo.

Darwin Airline (Switzerland) lodged a formal complaint with country’s regulators, alleging abusive and anti-competitive behavior by SWISS.

Mandala Airlines (Indonesia) filed for bankruptcy, as it is no longer able to operate or pay its debts of US$120.4 million.

SpiceJet (India) potential savior, Ajay Singh, asked the government for more time to finalize funding plans with private equity investors.

Thales (France) appointed Henri Proglio as chairman and Patrice Caine as chief executive.

Ukraine and Kazakhstan will cooperate in the fields of aviation.

Air Austral (Reunion) and Air France resumed codeshare partnership, which sees Air Austral’s UU code appear on 39 Intra-European routes operated by Air France. In return, AF code appears on Air Austral’s Dzaoudzi service.

Air China applied to launch service between Wuhan and Phuket with A320.

American Airlines (US) and Alaska Airlines (US) to expand codeshare partnership from 25 December 2014, covering additional 16 routes from Los Angeles, Salt Lake City and Seattle.

Beijing Capital Airlines (China) applies to launch non-stop service between Hangzhou and Jeju with A319/A320.

EasyJet (UK) to start flghts to Azores in March 2015, from Lisbon to Ponta Delgada utilizing A320.

Express Airways (Germany) plans to launch seasonal services from Bremen Neuenland, Dortmund and Karlsruhe/Baden-Baden to Split on 15 May 2015 with Avro RJ85s.

Fiji Airways to resume service from Nadi to Wellington on 25 June 2015 with B737-800, after 10-year hiatus.

Hainan Airlines (China) operated its last Beijing – Ekaterinburg service on on 28 November 2014.

Kenya Airways tentatively updated its Nairobi – Lagos service, starting 25 October 2015, with B787.

Lucky Air (China) will launch operations from Chengdu in 2015, with several B737s based at Shuangliu International Airport from June 2015.

Philippine Airlines launched service from Cebu to Nagoya on 23 December 2014 with A321.

Qantas (Australia) seeks allocation of unlimited capacity on the Fiji route between points in Australia other than Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane and Perth, and authorised points in Fiji. Jetstar Airways plans to operate services between the Gold Coast and Fiji from March 2015.

Royal Air Maroc (Marocco) reschedules planned B787-8 inaugural service from Casablanca to Paris Orly to 20 January 2015.

SpiceJet (India) operations returned to normal on 21 December 2014, with the airline operating 124 flights.

West Air (China) applies to expand its business license coverage to international flights, including Hong Kong, Macau and Taiwan services, as well as to neighboring countries.

Air Mandalay (Myanmar) temporarily halted flights until at least end of January 2015, due to unforeseen delays on the scheduled arrival of leased ERJ145s.

Hamburg Airways (Germany) temporarily stopped operations on 20 December 2014 after its AOC was suspended. Carrier expects to resume operations.