Airbus will boost A330 production to seven aircraft per month in 2017 after cutting production of the widebody to just six per month this year.

Airbus had been producing 10 A330s monthly through the 2015 third quarter, but cut back to nine in last year’s December quarter and six starting in January. But as the manufacturer moves toward the transition to the re-engined A330neo, set to enter service in late 2017/early 2018, net orders for the A330 totaled 136 in 2015 and Airbus has decided to hike A330 production by one aircraft per month starting in January 2017.

The A330 rate increase was announced as Airbus Group reported a full-year 2015 net profit of €2.7 billion ($2.95 billion), up 15% over net income of €2.34 billion in 2014. The Airbus commercial aircraft division increased revenue 8% in 2015 versus 2014 to €45.85 billion. Excluding special items, the commercial division’s 2015 EBIT rose 10% year-over-year to €2.78 billion. Including special items, which were mainly associated with the devaluation of the euro compared to the dollar, the commercial division’s EBIT fell 14% to €2.3 billion.

Airbus booked 1,080 net commercial aircraft orders in 2015, down 25.8% from 1,456 net orders in 2014. But 635 commercial aircraft delivered in 2015 (including 14 A350s) set a new company record, exceeding 629 aircraft delivered in 2014, and Airbus projected it will top 2015 deliveries in 2016 by delivering 650 commercial aircraft this year.

Airbus conceded “some schedule setbacks” on the A320neo, deliveries of which it said “will be back-loaded this year.”

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Barcelona-El Prat Airport operated 333 private flights because of the Mobile World Congress (MWC) 2016, held this week at the Fira de Barcelona. This figure represents an increase of 230% compared to a normal week in February.

Much of this aviation was operated with larger aircraft such as the Bombardier BD-700 Global Express and Gulfstream, with 13% of operations originating from US airports. The most used aircraft were the models Cessna and Dassault Falcon (49%), mainly from Europe: the UK, Switzerland, France and Germany. Domestic corporate aviation and business flights represented 9%.

Chile-headquartered LATAM Airlines has signed joint business agreements to deepen its ties with American Airlines Group and IAG’s British Airways and Iberia, all members of the Oneworld Alliance.

If cleared by competition authorities, the new agreements would help the airlines coordinate schedules and prices for flights, similar to the North Atlantic revenue-sharing agreement which already exists between IAG and American Airlines.

Joint business deals are one way for airlines to combine to help them extend the reach of their networks in an industry where foreign ownership rules often prevent outright mergers.

Within Europe, mergers have proved possible, like the one between British Airways and Iberia which formed IAG, but the big transcontinental deals which have taken place in the pharmaceuticals, automotive and oil and gas industries, have not happened among airlines.

Both deals are subject to regulatory approval in different countries. American and LATAM plan to apply for immunity from antitrust law, while IAG indicated that it could take between 12 and 18 months for its agreement to be given the green light.

IAG Chief Executive Willie Walsh expressed his interest in LATAM in November, when he told investors that deepening the partnership with a southern hemisphere carrier could act as a natural hedge to IAG’s seasonal earnings which are heavily weighted to the northern hemisphere’s summer.

Davy analyst Stephen Furlong said the new agreement would give LATAM and IAG about a third of the capacity on Europe to South America routes and would likely result in cost and revenue synergies.

“IAG have a track record in delivering substantial synergies,” he said, noting the success of the group’s joint venture with American Airlines which dates back to 2010.

The agreements with LATAM, which operates LAN Airlines in Chile and TAM in Brazil, would improve connectivity between South America and the United States and Canada, in the case of American, and increase flight options between Europe and Latin America, in the case of IAG.

Doug Parker, chairman and chief executive of American, said customers would benefit from more frequent and convenient schedule options than the carriers could offer individually.

“Travelers headed to Latin America will soon have more seamless access to more than 100 additional destinations with LATAM beyond American’s already extensive network,” he said.

Portuguese national carrier TAP Portugal has signed a firm order with Airbus for 53 aircraft from the European manufacturer, it announced Nov. 13.

The deal will see TAP Portugal taking 14 A330-900neo plus 39 A320neo family models, consisting of 15 A320neos and 24 A321neos.  The carrier is already an all-Airbus customer, with a current fleet of 43 A320 family models (21 A319, 19 A320 and three A321s) plus 14 A330-200 and four A340-300 widebodies.

The aircraft will join the airline as part of its fleet renewal announced by the airline’s new majority owner Atlantic Gateway. As part of the agreement, TAP Portugal is substituting its previous order of 12 A350-900s with the A330-900neo.

“Our latest order for 14 Airbus A330-900neo aircraft and 39 A320neo family aircraft reflects our ongoing commitment to provide our customers with the next generation of fuel efficient aircraft,” TAP CEO Fernando Pinto said. “The A330neo, like the A320neo family, will give us the flexibility to enter new markets and improve the frequency of existing ones.”

“With this order for 53 brand new aircraft TAP is reborn,” said Airbus COO-customers John Leahy. “These aircraft are the right aircraft for TAP’s current missions and growth markets. The combination of the A330neo and A320neo families … fleet will allow the airline to reap the benefits of Airbus’ unique aircraft commonality.”

The A330-800neo and A330-900neo were launched in July 2014, with first deliveries scheduled to start in 4Q 2017. The A330neo incorporates Rolls-Royce Trent 7000 engines, aerodynamic enhancements and new cabin features, with Airbus forecasting a 14% improvement in fuel consumption per seat compared to current A330s. Additionally, range increases by around 400 nautical miles.