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[Jaime]

December 14

• Airline Partners Australia reached agreement to acquire 100% of Qantas for A$5.60 per share (A$11.2b)...
  ...APA comprises Allco Finance Group, Allco Equity Partners, Macquarie Bank and offshore investors that include Texas Pacific Group and Onex.
• Ireland-based Genesis Lease raised $640.8m in IPO (NYSE:GLS) for about 89% of company...
  ...GE owns remaining 11%.
• JetBlue announced plan to remove row of seats on its A320s to create 36-inch pitch in rows 1-11 and 34 inches n rows 12-25.
• Las Vegas-based Allegiant Travel completed IPO (NASDAQ:ALGT), which resulted in net proceeds of $94.9m for 5.75m shares.
• Boeing began assembly of the first 737-700ER to be delivered to ANA in early 2007.
• UK-based JETS has heavy maintenance contract from SUN-AIR of Denmark for five Dornier 328 turboprops.
• AIA estimates US aerospace sales for 2006 at record $184.4b vs $170.1b in 2005, fueled by record sales in civil aircraft sector of $47.5b vs $39.2b.
• Pratt & Whitney Canada says it plans to invest C$1.5b in R&D over next five years.

December 16

• Lockheed Martin made first flight of the F-35 Lightning II...
  ...The stealthy F-35 is a supersonic, multi-role, 5th generation fighter designed to replace a wide range of existing aircraft, including AV-8B Harriers, A-10s, F-16s, F/A-18 Hornets and United Kingdom Harrier GR.7s and Sea Harriers.
• Goodrich plans to realign its organization into 11 strategic business units within three segments:... ...Nacelles and Interior Systems, led by Cindy Egnotovich... ...Actuation and Landing Systems, led by Jack Carmola... ...and Electronic Systems, led by Jerry Witowski.
• Grob Aerospace confirmed today that the spn, test aircraft No 3 remains on schedule for first flight during the second quarter of 2007.
• Air Madrid was forced to suspended service over disagreement with Spanish government and creditors

[Jaime]

December 18

• TUI announced plan to combine Hapagfly and Hapag-Lloyd Express into single brand operating under name TUIfly.com...
  ...TUI plans to order 41 more 737s, which would increase its order backlog to 65.
• Varig renewed its AOC with Brazilian authorities and now has 15 737-300s and three MD-11s.
• Boeing announced orders from Qatar Airways for two 777 Freighters and from Kenya Airways for three more 787-8s (now nine).
• FedEx acquired ANC Holdings, a UK domestic express transportation company.
• Air Caraibes ordered one EMBRAER 190 for late 2007, and optioned one.
• CTT Systems was selected by Boeing to supply its Zonal Drying system as standard for 787.
• Airbus delivered its first A340-600 VIP aircraft -- in green condition -- to SAAD Air of Saudi Arabia.
• American Airlines has 4-year Allegiant Air contract to provide maintenance support for its 24 MD-80s, plus any additional MD-80s added to fleet.
• easyJet announced "massive" expansion at Edinburgh that includes three new routes to Madrid, Milan and Palma starting in 1H07.
• California-based Oaktree Capital Management is reportedly planning to sell Pegasus Aviation Finance.
• Delta is expected this week to file its Plan of Reorganization.

[Jaime]

December 19

• Delta Air Lines filed a standalone Plan of Reorganization with the US Bankruptcy Court, and expects to emerge from Chapter 11 in spring of 2007...
  ...In doing so, Delta's Board of Directors has unanimously rejected the unsolicited merger proposal made by US Airways, calling it inferior in value and structurally flawed.
• Russia's Dalavia ordered six SuperJet 100s, and optioned four.
• Minnesota's Metropolitan Airports Commission unveiled plan to protect traveling public's interests in Northwest Airlines bankruptcy proceedings and encourage air service growth at MSP.
• Frankfurt-based DVB Bank named Jon Skirrow, formerly of BAE Systems Aircraft Trading, as Head of its new Aviation Asset Management platform.
• Pogo plans startup in 2008 of air taxi service with VLJs in US northeast, and says the impact of air taxi services will be irrelevant to airlines.
• US DOD approved funding for 10 more C-17s for USAF (now 190), which is expected to keep line open through October 2009.
• Continental began offering 8-minute helicopter services between Newark and Manhattan on an 8-pax Sikorsky S-76 operated by US Helicopter.
• Boeing delivered its 600th 777 (to Singapore Airlines), 11 years after the first.
• European Bank for Reconstruction and Development purchased 20% of Sky Express, an LCC startup out of Moscow.
• Asiana took delivery of its 100th aircraft, an A330-300.
• Air Madrid presented plan to Spanish Civil Aviation Authority to resume service.

[Jaime]

December 20

• Royal Jordanian Airlines announced that it has selected the 787 as its replacement aircraft for A340 fleet starting in 2010...
  ...It is now negotiating with Boeing and leasing companies for 4-5 aircraft, and might increase total to replace A310s starting in 2011...
  ...RJ also decided to replace two older A321s with two new A321s and expand narrowbody fleet with two new A319s in 2008.
• Air New Zealand ordered for four more 787-9s, and has now ordered eight with eight options.
• The European Commission, as expected, proposed legislation to bring greenhouse gas emissions from civil aviation into the EU Emissions Trading Scheme (EU ETS).
• Singapore Airlines and Airbus finalized previously announced order for nine additional A380s (now 19) and lease agreement for 19 A330-300s.
• US DOT proposed to allow United Airlines and a number of its Star Alliance partners to add three carriers to their immunized alliance and to permit expanded cooperation between United and Air Canada.
• Singapore's SilkAir ordered 11 A320s, and optioned nine, and now has 13 on order to join current fleet of five A319s and eight A320s.
• FedEx Express earned $502m in second quarter ended November 30, up 6% from a year ago.
• France's AIRLINAIR ordered one ATR 72-500 for delivery in 2009.
• SkyEurope Airlines plans in March to open a base at Vienna Schwechat International Airport with two new 737-700s serving 16 routes.
• Brazil's BRA sold 20% ownership to Brazil Air Partners -- a group of seven investors that includes Goldman Sachs and Bank of America -- to raise cash to expand fleet.
• AAR reported net profit of $13.8m in second quarter ended November 30 (vs $7.9m a year ago) on 13% higher sales...
  ...AAR also announced 3-year deal with Southwest to perform heavy maintenance and winglet installations for 737s at Indianapolis.
• Guggenheim Aviation Partners took delivery of its first new 747-400ER and sold it to TNT as first in deal for two.
• Israir Airlines signed MOU to order two A320s for delivery in 2010, and option one.
• EADS CASA delivered the first A400M horizontal tailplane to final assembly line in San Pablo (Seville).
• Dell appointed former American Airlines Chief, Donald J. Carty, as Vice Chairman and Chief Financial Officer.

[Jaime]

December 21

• Hawker Beechcraft Corporation, formed by Canada's Onex Corporation and Goldman Sachs, has agreed to acquire Raytheon Aircraft in deal valued at $3.3b...
  ...The deal includes facilities and other assets in Wichita and Salina, Kansas; Little Rock, Arkansas; and Dallas, Texas; as well as its FBO network in US, UK and Mexico.
• SkyWest was selected by Midwest Airlines to operate 50-seat CRJs as Midwest Connect over next five years starting in April 2007...
  ...Deal calls for a minimum of 15 aircraft and maximum of 25 to be operated out of Milwaukee and Kansas City.
• Ryanair's open offer for Aer Lingus shares has now expired, and the EC has decided to refer the offer to a Phase II investigation.
• TIMCO Aviation Services has completed privatization and de-registered its common stock which had been trading OTC.
• Qantas finalized previously announced order for eight more A380s with Trents, and now has 20 on order for 2008-2015.
• Switzerland's Sky Work Airlines ordered one Q400.

[Jaime]

December 22

• Mesa Air Group and Shenzhen Airlines signed joint venture agreement to create a Chinese regional airline for startup in 2007 using 50-pax regional jets...
  ...Focus cities for the new services will include Shenzhen, Beijing, Chongqing, Xiamen, Nanjing, Kunming, Dalian, Shenyang, Xian, Zhengzhou and Nanning.
• ICAO estimates world scheduled pax traffic (RPKs) rose about 5% in 2006, and cargo traffic (RTKs) rose about 3%.
• KLM ordered three more 737-800s, and Boeing has to date booked 910 aircraft orders (904 net) for 2006.
• Pinnacle Airlines reached agreement with Northwest on an amended and restated Airline Services Agreement through 2017...
  ...Northwest and Pinnacle also agreed that Pinnacle will receive an allowed unsecured claim of $377.5m in Northwest's bankruptcy proceedings.
• The Unofficial Committee of Unsecured Claimholders of Delta Air Lines is urging Delta to consider methodically, proactively and fairly strategic alternatives to its proposed stand-alone Plan of Reorganization to ensure that creditor recoveries are maximized in the Chapter 11 process.
• UK-based BASCO (Bournemouth Aviation Services Company) will close at the end of 2006.
• Boeing made first flight of KC-767 Tanker for the Japan Air Self-Defense Force (JASDF).
• The Boeing Company named Thomas J. Downey as Senior Vice President of Communications.
• AirAsia took delivery of its 50th aircraft.
• Aviation Capital Group confirmed previously announced deal to purchase 15 737-800 delivery positions in 2008-2010 from Delta.
• LAX is expecting to handle >1.75m passengers during the annual year-end holiday season: December 22-January 2...
  ...DFW is expecting 2.9m.

[Jaime]

December 23

• Lufthansa agreed to sell its 50% stake in Thomas Cook AG to KarstadtQuelle for 800m euros...
  ...Lufthansa is also increasing its stake in Condor Flugdienst from 10% to 24.9% and is acquiring shares in Sun Express held by Condor.
• Midwest Air Group retained Goldman, Sachs & Co. as financial advisor to provide strategic advice to further develop its strategy to grow its business and maximize shareholder value.
• Sikorsky Aircraft has selected GE Aviation to provide GE38-1B engine (derivative of the CFE738) for three-engine CH-53K to replace the CH-53E SUPER STALLION.
• Delta's Official Creditor Committee asked US Bankruptcy Court for permission to retain Gordon Bethune as a consultant...
  ...Bethune would reportedly be paid $250,000 for every 10 days of service.
• Pakistan International Airlines today took delivery of its first of three 777-300ERs on order.
• AeroRepublica took delivery of its first of seven EMBRAER 190s on order.
• Virgin America completed flight proving runs for FAA as part of attempt to begin service in early 2007.
• Pratt & Whitney Canada received FAA type certification for its PW535B engine, selected to power the new Cessna Citation Encore+.

[Jaime]

December 26

• China's airlines reported profits of 4.73b yuan (US$600m) during first 11 months of 2006, up 2.14b yuan ($274m) a year ago.
• SAMA was licensed by The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia as its third national carrier after Saudi Arabian Airlines and NAS.
• Taiwan-based China Airlines passed its IATA Operational Safety Audit (IOSA) renewal audit.
• Israel's Elbit Vision Systems appointed Yaron Menashe as its new Chief Financial Officer.
• Qatar Airways announced a huge expansion of its operations across India with the launch of two new routes in 2007 -- to Chennai and Ahmedabad -- and the introduction of additional capacity on existing services...
  ...Qatar Airways currently operates service to Mumbai, Delhi,Hyderabad,Cochin and Trivandrum.
• Inter Airlines of Turkey is wet-leasing three A321s in Pakistan: two to PIA and one to Airblue.

[travelhouse]

Qatar Airways announced a huge expansion of its operations across India with the launch of two new routes in 2007 -- to Chennai and Ahmedabad -- and the introduction of additional capacity on existing services...
...Qatar Airways currently operates service to Mumbai, Delhi,Hyderabad,Cochin and Trivandrum.

This game should follow in the footsteps of a real life airline, Qatar adds new locations, think Miller may want to consider, following the example, as they add, the game adds to.

Just a suggestion.

BTW, thanks Jamie, Keep up the good work

[Jaime]

December 27

• Northern Travel Holding, formed by Icelandic investment companies, Fons, FL Group and Sund, purchased Sterling Airlines from FL Group for ISK20b...
  ...Northern Travel will also hold 100% of Iceland Express, 51% of Astraeus, 29.26% of Swedish travel agent Ticket, and 100% of Danish travel agent Hekla Travel.
• Turkey's Inter Airlines wet-leased three A321s to Pakistan Intl. Airways (2) and Airblue (1).
• World Air Holdings reported $5.9m net income in 3Q06 (vs $5.5m in 3Q05) on 6.4% higher revenues.
• Aviation Partners Boeing launched 737-900 blended winglet program...
  ...Launch customers include KLM, Continental and Alaska Airlines for 26 total aircraft.
• Iceland's FL Group acquired 5.98% of the share capital of AMR Corporation, making it the third largest shareholder in the airline.
• Utilicraft Aerospace Industries, which is developing the FF-1080-300ER Freight Feeder, began offering shares publicly on the Over The Counter Bulletin Board under symbol UITA.
• Russia's UTair-Technik received Part 145 repair station certification from European Aviation Safety Agency (EASA).

[Jaime]

December 28

• US DOT says Virgin America needs to revise its ownership, corporate structure and associated agreements to be 75%-owned and actually controlled by US citizens before it can receive an operating certificate...
  ...Virgin America plans to submit response on January 10.
• Korean Air expects to make KRW640b operating profit on KRW8.6 trillion sales in 2007 vs KRW560b on KRW8.3 trillion in 2006.
• Embry-Riddle's Daytona Beach campus was hit by a Tornado on December 25, causing severe damage to some buildings and aircraft.
• Hawaiian is being forced to temporarily suspend daily San Diego-Maui due to unexpected delay in completion/certification of interior mods of four ex-Delta 767s that it has acquired.
• Australia's Jetstar began service to Hawaii using A330s.
• Varig is dropping out of Star Alliance as of January 31.

[Jaime]

December 29

• Delta lost $49m ($12m excluding reorganization items) in November vs $181m loss in November 2005...
  ...As of November 30, 2006, Delta had $2.7b of unrestricted cash, cash equivalents and short-term investments.
• Italy invited offers of interest (until January 29, 2007) for at least 30.1% of Alitalia, and as much as the government's full stake of 49.9%.
• World Airways has $6.8m Ethiopian Airlines contract to provide two DC-10-30Fs for service between Addis Ababa, Ethiopia and Brussels, Belgium.

December 30

• Korean Air finalized order for 10 777-300ERs, five 747-8 Freighters, five 777 Freighters and five 737NGs, along with options for four 777-300ERs, two 747-8Fs and two 737-900ERs...
  ...The 777-300ERs will replace 747-400s being converted to freighters, while the 747-8 Freighters and 777 Freighters will provide expansion.
• Comair and its pilots reached standstill agreement to allow pilots to continue to work under the current collective bargaining agreement until February 2 while sides continue to negotiate new contract.
• The New York Stock Exchange will remain closed on Tuesday, January 2, to observe the National Day of Mourning for President Gerald R. Ford...
  ...The Nasdaq Stock Market and the Federal Reserve will also be closed.

[Jaime]

January 2

• India's Jet Airways has agreed to order 10 787-8s for delivery between July 2011 and December 2012.
• Eclipse Aviation delivered its first customer aircraft on December 31...
  ...It says it has 37 additional aircraft on its production line with seven having completed final assembly.
• India's Hindustan Aeronautics and Russia's Irkut are forming joint venture to build a 60-tonne, 100-seat multi-role transport aircraft.
• China Southern Airlines began Beijing-Lagos, Nigeria, the first-ever service between between China and Africa.
• Adam Air 737-400 crashed in the West Sulawesi province of Indonesia...
  ...Of the 102 people on board, 12 reportedly have survived.

[Jaime]

January 3

• Pemco World Air Services has Bluebird Cargo contract to convert two more 737-400s to freighters at the STAECO facility in Jinan, China.
• GAMECO is reportedly setting up a maintenance facility in Subic Bay to support FedEx aircraft...
  ...It also signed an Aircraft Repainting Services Agreement with Asiana through 2008.
• Sikorsky Aircraft has agreement in principle to acquire Poland's PZL Mielec.
• Utilicraft Aerospace Industries is building 55,500 sq ft flight test hangar/offices in Albuquerque for its FF-1080-300ER Freight Feeder program.
• Eaton Corporation agreed to acquire AT Holdings, the parent of Argo-Tech, for $695m.
• Lufthansa announced plan to hire 3,000 new service professionals in 2007...
  ...It hired 2,500 in 2006.
• Continental Airlines says it expects to post a modest loss for 4Q06.
• Boeing is expected this week to announce/confirm record 2006 orderbook of about 1,040 aircraft.
• Gales Industries agreed to acquire NY-based Sigma Metals.
• L'Avion launched service between Paris Orly and Newark using 90-seat 757-200 in all-business class configuration.
• Aviation Safety Network reports there were 888 airliner accident fatalities, as a result of 27 accidents, in 2006, significantly lower than the 10-year average of 36 accidents and 1,005 fatalities.
• Los Angeles World Airports announced that its Executive Director, Lydia Kennard, is stepping down.

[Jaime]

January 4

• Calyon Securities predicts US airline industry will earn $2.3b in 2006 (vs $5.9b loss in 2005) and about $6b in 2007.
• Association of European Airlines named Fernando Conte, Chairman and CEO of Iberia, as its Chairman for 2007.
• Asiana plans to order two A321s, one A330-300 and one A320 from Airbus and two 777-200ERs from Boeing.
• JetBlue today began service to Chicago O’Hare with six daily flights from JFK (4) and Long Beach (2).
• UK-based Ascend reports that there were 13 fatal aviation accidents worldwide in 2006, making it the second safest year on record.
• Singapore's Tiger Airways secured US$100m loan facility, arranged and underwritten by BNP Paribas, to finance pre-delivery deposits on eight A320s.
• Stork agreed to acquire Turbo Service GmbH, an independent service provider for power plant rotating equipment.
• WestJet posted a record load factor of 78.2% for 2006 vs 74.6% in 2005.
• Airbus is expected next week to begin restructuring talks with unions under its Power8 cost-cutting plan.
• Ireland-based Genesis Lease appointed former Boeing Capital executive, Cian Dooley, as its Chief Commercial Officer.
• RAA members in US flew 18.1b RPMs in 3Q06, up 3.7% vs 17.5b in 3Q05...
  ...Capacity fell 0.7% to 24.2b ASMs.
• AirTran Airways says it expects to post a modest loss for 4Q06.

[Jaime]

January 5

• Boeing ended 2006 with record 1,050 orders (1,044 net) from 76 customers: 733 737s, 72 747s, eight 767s, 77 777s and 160 787s...
  ...Previous high was 1,029 (1,002 net) in 2005.
• AirAsia X is being formed to offer no-frills long-haul service from Kuala Lumpur starting in July 2007...
  ...It is expected to order up to 20 777s or A330s and start service with two or three.
• Pegasus Aviation Finance ordered two A350XWBs (first since model's official launch) and six A330-200s, and says it now has 36 aircraft on order.
• Delta plans to order 30 76-seat CRJ900s for 3Q07-1Q10, and option 30, pending US Bankruptcy Court approval.
• Northwest Airlines reported $274m net loss for November...
  ...It also confirmed that it has agreed to purchase bankrupt Mesaba Airlines.
• Boeing rolled out first 737-700ER for delivery to ANA (launch customer) in early '07.
• Russia's Aeroflot-Nord joined the European Regions Airline Association (ERA).
• Frontier Airlines reached tentative agreement with its pilots on new 4-year labor contract.
• Alcoa-SIE redelivered its first 757-200ASF to BBAM, which is expected to announce a lessee for the aircraft shortly.
• UK-based STG Aerospace has Air Canada contract to supply SafTGlo photoluminescent floorpath marking systems for domestic fleet of 125 aircraft...
  ...SafTGlo is currently on >4,000 aircraft.
• ATR delivered to Kingfisher its first aircraft (an ATR 72-500) equipped with an IFE System (17 LCD monitors), which is supplied by Vision Systems of France.
• Malaysia's AirAsia is expected to order up to 100 more A320s, doubling its fleet to 200...
  ...As of November 30, it had 14 in service and 86 on order.
• Nymex shows that light, sweet crude oil is trading at $55.32 per barrel, its lowest level since mid-2005.

[Jaime]

January 6

• British Airways reached an agreement with its unions on a reform package to change its New Airways Pension Scheme (NAPS), which has a GBP2.1b deficit.
• Riley Investment Management LLC, a large shareholder of MAIR Holdings (owner of bankrupt Mesaba Airlines) is calling Northwest's proposed offer to acquire Mesaba Airlines inadequate...
  ...Riley values Mesaba at >$300m vs Northwest's offer to acquire the carrier in exchange for the allowance of Mesaba's $145m claim against Northwest.
• United Airlines says it expects to book a modest operating loss for 4Q06, joining Continental and AirTran, which have made similar announcements.
• TAM reports that in Brazil it held a 49.1% domestic market share and 60.6% international market share at the end of December 2006.
• Delta confirmed that the Pension Benefit Guaranty Corporation (PBGC) has become the trustee of the Delta Pilots Retirement Plan...
  ...The PBGC will be allowed a pre-petition unsecured claim against Delta of $2.2b, and the debtors' proposed plan of reorganization will provide for the distribution to the PBGC of $225m in senior unsecured notes.
• Alaska Airlines plans September 9 to begin Portland, OR-Boston and Portland-Orlando, bringing its total number of transcontinental routes to eight...
  ...The new transcontinental flights will be operated with 124-pax 737-700s

[Jaime]

January 8

• AirAsia ordered 50 more A320s, and optioned 50, and has now ordered 150, of which 15 have been delivered.
• Singapore Aircraft Leasing Enterprise (SALE) has ordered 20 more A320 Family aircraft and 20 more 737s, all for delivery 2009-2012...
  ...It says the new orders reflect the ongoing strong demand for single aisle aircraft that continues to exceed supply.
• US Airways added Morgan Stanley as joint lead arranger with Citigroup to underwrite its $7.2b debt financing for proposed merger with Delta.
• TAT Technologies and Stork were unable to reach final agreement in Stork's proposed purchase of equity stakes in Piedmont Aviation Component Services and Limco Airepair...
  ...TAT now plans to raise funds for the two US subsidiaries through public offering and/or private placement.
• Spain's Grupo Marsans completed previously announced order for 12 A330-200s with PW4000s, plus 10 options, for Air Comet, Air Pullmantur and Aerolineas Argentinas.
• Northrop Grumman is reportedly considering dropping out of USAF Tanker program over bidding rules...
  ...It is teaming with EADS to offer the KC-30 (A330).
• KLM Engineering & Maintenance has TNT Airways contract to maintain its two 747-400ERFs.
• GE Aviation signed 6-year OnPoint Services agreement with Mexico's VivaAerobus for 10 CFM56-3Bs (737-300s) in deal that includes installation of -3 Advanced Upgrade package.
• IATA reported that November intl. pax traffic was 6.7% higher than a year ago, the highest growth rate recorded since May.
• SITA was awarded $30m contract by Qatar Airways to build and maintain an advanced telecommunications network infrastructure.
• FAA is proposing rule that would provide improved airplane design features and greater protection of the cabin, flightdeck, and cargo compartments from the detonation of explosive or incendiary devices, penetration by projectiles, and intrusion by unauthorized persons.

[Jaime]

January 9

• AirAsia ordered 50 more A320s, and optioned 50, and has now ordered 150, of which 15 have been delivered...
  ...It plans to become the second largest A320 operator in the world by 2012.
• Pinnacle Airlines has agreed to sell $335m of its $377.5m unsecured claim against Northwest Airlines to third parties for about $283m.
• Precision Castparts agreed to purchase Cherry Aerospace (aerospace rivets, blind bolts and related fastening technology) from Acument Global Technologies for $300m.
• Brazil's GOL reduced its guidance for full year 2006 and now expects its earnings per share of R$3.15-3.30 (vs R$3.40-3.65 previously) on R$3.85b revenues (vs R$3.9b).
• Rothschild is forming a consortium to place bid for Italian Government's stake in Alitalia.
• Goodrich confirmed that it will supply the nacelle and thrust reverser systems for all variants of the A350 XWB...
  ...It had been slated to supply the systems for the original A350.
• easyJet announced addition of five more new routes for 2007, taking its total number of new routes to be launched in 1H07 to 30.
• Ducommun AeroStructures received contract extension from Boeing for 767 rigid cargo barriers.
• FAA published final ETOPS rule that brings all commercial aircraft under a common regulation when they fly routes more than three hours from an airport.
• UPS promoted David Abney from President-UPS Intl. to Chief Operating Officer and President of UPS Airlines.
• Lockheed Martin made second test flight of F-35 Lightning II (JSF) at Fort Worth.

[Jaime]

January 10

• US Airways has increased its offer to merge with Delta from $4b in cash and 78.5m shares to $5b in cash and 89.5m shares...
  ...The increased offer is set to expire on February 1 unless there is affirmative creditor support for commencement of due diligence...
  ...Citigroup and Morgan Stanley have committed $8.2b to fund the cash portion of the offer and refinance existing obligations at both US Airways and Delta.
• The Air Transport Association (ATA) is projecting US airline industry will record aggregate net profit of $2b-$3b in 2006 and $4b in 2007, the first back-to-back period of profitability since 1999-2000.
• Caribbean Sun Airlines, with four Dash 8s, plans January 31 to cease operations and close its hub in San Juan, PR.
• TransDigm Group agreed to purchase Aviation Technologies (ATI) from Odyssey Investment Partners for about $430m...
  ...Seattle-based ATI consists of two primary operating units that service the commercial and military aerospace markets: Avtech and ADS/Transicoil.
• Midwest Air Group made investor presentation outlining its strategy as a stand-alone company and demonstrating how AirTran's merger offer undervalues Midwest.
• Mesa's Hawaiian division, go!, flew 12.7m ASMs in December with a 66% load factor.
• Sikorsky Aircraft confirmed agreement to acquire Poland's PZL Mielec to form the foundation for European operations.
• UK's bmi regional says it is acquiring for more ERJ 145s in early 2007 for expansion. It will then have 20.
• Myrtle Beach Direct Air & Tours, a new air service based in Myrtle Beach, SC, plans March 7 startup of nonstop Myrtle Beach-Newark with 737-200 wet-leased from Sky King.
• KLM Engineering & Maintenance has 3-year Total Care Support contract from Martinair for four 747-400BCFs.
• Northwest is planning to file its Plan of Reorganization with US Bankruptcy Court early next week (January 15-19).