Dhaka airport fines Maldivian for flying in passengers without COVID-19 negative certificates
https://www.thedailystar.net/city/news/maldivian-airlines-fined-tk-238-lakh-bringing-passengers-without-covid-19-negative-certificates-2009749

Maldivian, the Maldives’ national carrier, has been fined BDT238,000 (US$3,000) by Dhaka’s Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport for carrying in passengers without COVID-19 negative certificates. The airline transported 200 passengers to Dhaka, nearly all of which had no COVID-19 negative certificates, says the Civil Aviation Authority of Bangladesh. It says it is facing an increasing number of passengers flying, without being tested within 72 hours of their flight. Over 4,000 of whom arrived in Dhaka in November, it adds.

Indonesian Aerospace N219 completes final test flight
https://jakartaglobe.id/tech/n219-completes-final-test-flight-expects-commercial-operation-in-2021

Indonesian Aerospace’s N219 turboprop has completed its final test flight. The country’s minister for science and technology, Bambang Brodjonegoro, says Indonesia’s civil aviation authority is likely to type certify it in 2021.

Start-Up Vietravel receives first aircraft
https://www.anna.aero/2020/12/11/new-entrant-vietravel-to-initially-focus-on-soaring-domestic-market/

Vietnam’s newest air operator certificate (AOC) holder Vietravel Airlines has received its first aircraft, an Airbus A321ceo. The charter airline, which derives its name and is part of a large local tour operator, will add up to two more aircraft this month, it says. The airline has yet to announce its network, but local reports say it will focus on tourist destinations: Da Nang, Nha Trang, Phu Quoc, Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City.

PNG’s Air Niugini increases capacity for end-year period
https://news.pngfacts.com/2020/12/air-niugini-upgrades-and-increases.html

Papua New Guinea’s national airline Air Niugini is adding capacity for the end-year travel period via increased frequencies and larger aircraft on some routes. Air Niugini says the De Havilland Canada Dash 8-400 it recently received will mostly be for flights to Rabaul, a town in New Britain province.

Kāpiti Coast Airport begins rolling closures due to lack of staff
https://www.nzherald.co.nz/kapiti-news/news/rolling-closures-at-kapiti-coast-airport/C7BW3DVV2RD5O7IFVVMUFLPKCA/

Kāpiti Coast Airport, on New Zealand’s North Island, will undergo rolling closures until 1 February, because national air navigation services provider Airways New Zealand has too few staff to operate the airport’s aerodrome flight information service (AFIS). The airport closures are taking place for up to five hours each time until February, because two of the staff who work in the control tower resigned recently, says Airways New Zealand.

Photo: Vietravel