Boeing completed the final assembly of the first B737 MAX 8, with company on track for first delivery to launch customer Southwest Airlines (US) in 3Q 2017.

Zodiac Aerospace (France) applies for patent to turn part of an aircraft’s cargo hold into a windowless cabin for economy class travelers.

Avianca Brasil signed codeshare agreements with alliance members Turkish Airlines and Ethiopian Airlines.

Etihad (UAE) increased its stake in Virgin Australia from 24.2% to 25.1%, as the two carriers to focus on new areas of commercial co-operation over next five years.

Malaysia Airlines may re-open the possibility of a joint-venture partnership with Qantas (Australia) again, after the Malaysian airline recently signed a deal with Emirates (UAE).

United Airlines (US) and Lufthansa (Germany) plan to enhance their current cooperation to include cargo cooperation by United Cargo and Lufthansa Cargo on routes between the US and Europe.

AerCap Holdings (Netherlands) completed the closing of US$1.3 billion of new credit facilities. The facilities will primarily be used to acquire new narrowbody and widebody aircraft as they deliver from Boeing and Airbus through the end of 2016. A $0.8 billion facility was signed to finance a portfolio of 13 aircraft over a nine-year term.

Aviation Capital Group (US) to consider an IPO. As of 30 September 2015, ACG had about US$9.1 billion in total assets and about $632 million in year-to-date revenue, with a fleet of almost 400 aircraft that it owns, manages or has on order.

Fitch Ratings (US) outlook for the North American airline sector remains positive for 2016, with further improvement expected in airline credit profiles. Outlook is tempered by a soft unit revenue environment, weakness in various international economies and potential for increased shareholder-friendly cash deployment.

Fitch Ratings (US) upgraded AVIC International (China) Long-Term Foreign-Currency and Local-Currency Issuer Default Ratings and senior unsecured debt rating to ‘BBB+’ from ‘BBB’. The Outlook is Stable.

Hainan Airlines (China) to adjust its private placement released earlier in April 2015 to only US$2.5 billion. Funds will still be used to acquire 37 aircraft, including 14 B787-9s, 11 B737s, seven B737-8 Maxs, and five A330-300s, as well as 48.2% stake in Tianjin Airlines (China).

West Atlantic (Sweden) successfully placed an issue of senior secured bonds in the amount of US$99 million. Bonds will carry a fixed interest rate of 6.50% per annum and will mature in December 2019.

AerFin (UK) continues its acquisition program with the purchase of A340-300, serial 483.

AeroCentury (US) lists CF34-8E5A1, serial 193117, for immediate sale or lease. Contact: Frank Pegueros, frank.pegueros@aerocentury.com, +1 650 340 1888.

Aerotask (UAE) lists A319-100, serial 3406, A321-200, serial 2933, and B737-500, serial 28475, all for wet-lease immediately. Contact: Marian Pistik, fleet@aerotask.ae.

AerSale (US) lists CFM56-7B27/3B1F, serial 896959, for sale, lease or exchange immediately, and CF6-80C2B1F, CFM56-3C1, and PW4056-3, all for sale or lease immediately. Contact: Alan Kehoe, alan.kehoe@aersale.com, +353 1 475 3018.

Amentum Capital (Ireland) lists two A320-200s, serials 3524 & 3543, for lease in June 2016; and four A330-200s, serials 943 (Feb16), 962 (Apr16), 979 (Oct16) & 1002 (Jan17), for sale or lease. Contact: Jack Hynes, marketing@fpg-amentum.aero, +353 1 6398125.

Arena Aviation Capital (Netherlands) lists B737-800, serial 28220, for sale, lease or dry lease immediately. Contact: Erik Dahmen, edahmen@arena-aviationcapital.com.

Automatic (US) lists nine B737-400s, serials 267, 407, 842, 844, 848, 853, 858, 859, 860; nine B737-500s, serials 24938, 24941, 24820, 25271, 24940, 24943, 24946, 24945, 24942; and one B737-300, serial 25148, all for sale or lease immediately. Contact: Sam Thornton, sthornton@automatic.cc, +1 407-916-7777.

AWAS (Ireland) delivered first of four planned new A320s to its customer, VivaAerobus (Mexico), purchasing the aircraft the airline had previously ordered from the manufacturer and then placing it with them on a long term lease.

BAC Leasing (UK) lists ATR 72-200, serial 373, for lease or wet lease immediately. Contact: David Robinson, david.robinson@bac-leasing.com.

Cockley Brake (UK) lists B737-300QC, serial 25401, for immediate sale. Contact: Steve Doughty, steve@cockleybrake.com, 44 (0) 7864-647513.

Colorful Guizhou Airlines plans to finance its order for seven E190s with a 10-year sale/leaseback package with Shenzhen Great King Financial Leasing (China).

Condor Aviation (Romania) lists B737-300, serial 27924, for immediate sale or wet lease. Contact: Valeriu Harcovei, v.harcovei@condoraviation.ro, +40 727 891 801.

Falcon Aviation Services (UAE) is operating three of its six Q400s on ACMI lease contract for Qazak Air (Kazakhstan).

Falko (UK) lists six ATR72-500s, serials 719, 731, 751, 806, 829 & 862, for immediate sale or lease. Contact: Richard Dudley-Cave, sales@falko.com, +44 1707 255533.

Farner Aviation (Switzerland) lists CFM56-3C1, serial 722317, for immediate sale. Contact: Markus Seiler, m.seiler@farner-aviation.com, +41 79 202 2602.

Fiji Airways to take delivery of another new A330-300, serial 1692, by end of December 2015.

Firnas Airways (UK) issues tender looking to dry lease two B757-200s and one B767-300ER for 60 months by its February 2017 launch date.

German Aviation Capital lists seven B737-800s, serials 28228, 282387, 282621, 29049, 30498, 34702 and 34703; seven B747-400s, serials 26359, 26360, 28025, 28029, 28031, 29119, and 29950; four B777-200ERs, serials 28514, 28523, 28998 and 28999; and three B777-300s, serials 28516, 28531 and 28534, all for immediate sale or lease. Contact: Ion Voinorovici, ion.voinorovici@germanaviationcapital.de, +49 (0) 69 3535 765 15.

GMT Global Republic Aviation (US) lists B777-200ER, serial 28533, for sale, lease or joint venture in 2Q 2016. Contact: John Leech, jleech@gmt-aviation.com.

ICBC Financial Leasing (China) used Credit Agricole CIB (France) and National Australia Bank for the financing of one B737-800, serial 40957.

LCH Trading (US) lists two JT8D-217C/219, serials 728029 and 709880, for immediate sale. Contact: Claudia Pulido, claudia@lchaerospace.com, +1 305 591 9469.

Loong Air (China) took delivery of its first A320, serial 6764, that deploys the Space-Flex concept.

Magellan Aviation Group (US) lists A320-200, serial 333, for immediate sale; and one E170, serial 59, one DHC8-100, serial 113, one DHC8-300, serial 266, one AE3007-A1, serial 311119, one CF34-8C5/B1, serial 965282, one CFM56-5B4, serial 779243, one CFM56-5C4, serial 741445, two PW121, serials AC0072 and AC0094, one PW123B/D/E, serials 123088 and AE0159, one PW124B, serial 124513, one PW127E/F/M, AV0010 and ED0240, one PW150A, serial FA1140, one PW4056-3, serial 727971, and one PW4062-3, serial 727630, all for immediate sale or lease. Contact: Bill Polyi, bill.polyi@magellangroup.net.

Malaysia Airports to sell or dispose of three abandoned B747-200Fs, serials 22382, 22669, and 22363, at KLIA Airport if no one claims them by 21 December 2015.

Potomac Aviation (US) lists B737-300QC, serial 26851, for sale immediately. Contact: Michael Wayshner, info@potomacaviation.net, +1 703 414 7875.

Real Tonga won a bid to operate the government’s MA60, which was gifted from China.

SkyGo Leasing (UK) lists two B737-400, serials 24643 & 24901, for immediate wet lease. Contact: Shaun Monnery, info@skygoww.com, +44 77 11 175845.

Skyworks Leasing (US) lists two B737-400, serials 28890 / 28891, for sale or lease in April / May 2016. Contact: Arif Husain, ahusain@skyworksleasing.com.

Volito Aviation (Sweden) lists A321-200, serial 4728, for immediate sale with lease attached to Air Berlin (Germany), and A321-200, serial 1276, for sale in January 2016. Contact: Siggi Kristinsson, siggi.kristinsson@volito.aero.

Etihad (UAE) signed strategic relationship agreement with Swiss AviationSoftware, which will enable the airline and its equity partners to move to a common maintenance platform, and provide them with the required commercial and operating flexibility throughout their fleet.

Air France KLM appointed Nathalie Stubler as next CEO of Transavia France, succeeding Antoine Pussiau who becomes SVP-Asia Pacific at the Group, effective 01 February 2016. In addition, Patrick Roux to become SVP alliances at Air France KLM.

Aviation Capital Group (US) appointed Khanh Tran as CEO, effective 01 January 2016, to replace Denis Kalscheur, who will become Vice Chairman.

Hawaiian Airlines (US) reached two tentative agreements on five year contracts with the International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers, to increase compensation for more than 2,200 employees.

Intrepid Aviation (US) appointed Nicholas Tomassetti as a Director to its Board of Managers.

Lufthansa Group (Germany) says Austrian Airlines CEO Kay Kratky will take over responsibility for Group’s flight operations in Vienna, as of 01 January 2016.

Skyworld Aviation (UK) appointed Harry Forsythe as Marketing Representative, based in Sydney, Australia.

US Airways regains ability from US court to seek roughly US$210 million of damages in its antitrust lawsuit accusing Sabre (US) of inflating booking fees, even after the carrier had waived damages exceeding a mere $20.

Thailand is recruiting airline inspectors to address the most pressing issues highlighted in a safety downgrade of its aviation industry by the international watchdog, as it awaits a European assessment due on 10 December 2015.

United States launched a challenge to Chinese tax exemptions for locally produced aircraft, saying they discriminated against imported planes.

Air China to launch service from Beijing to Auckland on 10 December 2015 with A330-200.

Air Europa (Spain) and Avianca Brasil commenced reciprocal codeshare partnership on 07 December 2015, covering selected routes out of Sao Paulo and Madrid.

Air France to add service from Paris CDG to Teheran and from Paris Orly to New York JFK in April and June 2016, respectively. Latter service to be operated with B777-200.

Air Serbia granted rights by US DOT to operate flights to the US with its own aircraft and crew, but the airline’s permit request to be decided after it completes the FAA 129 certification process it is currently undertaking. Furthermore, the DOT granted the carrier rights to codeshare on Air Berlin (Germany) flights from Germany to the US.

American Airlines Group (US) reports November 2015 RPMs up 4.3%, ASMs down 0.2%, total passenger load factor up 3.5 points to 81.2%, and total enplanements up 4.3% to 15.8 million.

Austrian Airlines carried more than 785,500 passengers in November 2015, up 1.9%, with ASKs down 1.5%, RPKs up 1.0%, and passenger load factor up 1.8 points to 75.0%.

British Airways (UK) to begin new B787-9 service from London Heathrow to Shanghai in summer 2016.

Brussels Airlines (Belgium) reports November 2015 passenger numbers up 10.9% to 548,060, with ASKs up 1.3%, RPKs up 12.7%, and passenger load factor up 7.3 points to 72.0%.

Finnair (Finland) reports November 2015 ASKs up 9.2%, RPKs up 9.0%, passenger load factor down 0.1% points to 76.2%, and passenger numbers up 13.4% to 807,300.

Lufthansa Group (Germany) reports November 2015 demand fell 10.6% in November due to a week of strikes by cabin crew, with load factor down 0.6 points to 75.3%.

PAWA Dominicana received authorization to start service to Cuba, with plans to serve Havana specifically.

Republic Airways (US) reports November 2015 RPMs down 4%, ASMs down 9%, load factor up 4 points to 79% and passenger numbers down 3.3% to 1.7 million.

SkyWest (US) reports November 2015 RPMs down 4.0%, ASMs down 5.7%, load factor up 1.9 points to 81.8%, and passenger numbers down 3.4% to 4.3 million.

Spirit Airlines (US) reports November 2015 RPMs up 27.8%, ASMs up 28.2%, and load factor up 0.2 points to 81.9%.

United Airlines (US) reports November 2015 RPMs up 4.2%, ASMs up 1.9%, load factor up 1.8 points to 81.7%, and passenger numbers up 6.7% to 11.3 million.

AVIC Cargo Airlines (China) obtains approval to launch operations, with registered capital of US$85.9 million and B757Fs and MA600Fs sourced from 45% shareholder, Joy Air (China).