UK leisure carrier Jet2 is rolling out a virtual-reality training system for pilots’ pre-flight aircraft walkaround inspections following approval from the Civil Aviation Authority (CAA). The initiative deploys six headsets at the airline’s Manchester and Bradford training centers to deliver…
An MHIRJ CRJ700 operated by PSA Airlines for American Airlines diverted to Washington Dulles International Airport after apparently striking an object that holed the radome during takeoff from Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport. The aircraft, registered N517AE and operating as…
Willis Lease Finance Corporation (NASDAQ: WLFC), a leading lessor of commercial aircraft engines and provider of aviation services, announced record financial results for the year ended December 31, 2025. Total revenue reached $730.2 million, a 28.3% increase from $569.2 million…
Pratt & Whitney, an RTX business, received a follow-on contract from Leidos Dynetics on March 10, 2026, to supply TJ150 turbojet engines for the AGM-190A small cruise missile. The compact TJ150 engine delivers over 150 pounds of thrust, enabling high-altitude…
Belgian Federal Minister of Mobility has suspended Philippe Touwaide, the federal ombudsman for Brussels Airport, for one month over conflict of interest allegations. The decision, announced on March 11, 2026, follows scrutiny of Touwaide’s role amid ongoing controversies at the…
Eve Air Mobility, an Embraer spin-out, has accumulated 28 flights with its first engineering prototype of the E100 electric vertical take-off and landing aircraft since its maiden sortie on 19 December. Operating from the Gaviao Peixoto facility in Brazil, the…
JetBlue Airways resumed normal operations early Tuesday, March 10, following a nationwide ground stop requested by the airline due to a brief system outage. The Federal Aviation Administration issued the stop at JetBlue’s request, halting all departures from its facilities…
Lufthansa Group is expanding its long-haul operations with additional flights to Asia and Africa in response to surging demand, driven by Middle East airspace closures amid the Gulf conflict. The carrier plans four extra round-trip flights from Munich to Singapore,…
De Havilland Canada is assembling the first DHC-515 Firefighter amphibious water bomber at its Calgary facilities, with structures progressing toward a 2028 first delivery. Production milestones include joining the cockpit and hull to form the forward fuselage and completing the…
Boeing has paused deliveries of certain 737 Max aircraft to address small scratches on wiring caused by a machining error within its facilities. The company confirmed the issue affects undelivered planes, requiring rework that will take several days per aircraft.…
Pieter Elbers resigned as CEO of IndiGo, India’s largest airline, effective March 10, 2026, citing personal reasons in a letter to Managing Director Rahul Bhatia. He waived his notice period and described his tenure since September 2022 as an honor,…
MD Helicopters has unveiled the MD 564, a high-performance light single-engine helicopter derived from the proven 500-series platform. The aircraft features a six-blade main rotor, four-blade tail rotor, and Rolls-Royce 250-C47E/3 engine with dual-channel FADEC, delivering 675 shaft horsepower. Retaining…
Air France operated a special flight to transport France’s official delegation to the 69th session of the UN Commission on the Status of Women (CSW) in New York, marking International Women’s Day on March 8, 2026. The flight, crewed predominantly…
Sikorsky, a Lockheed Martin company, and Robinson Helicopter Company announced a collaboration on March 10, 2026, to integrate Sikorsky’s MATRIX™ autonomy system into the Robinson R66 TURBINETRUCK, an unmanned cargo helicopter designed for commercial and defense utility missions. The R66…
Australia is deploying an E-7A Wedgetail reconnaissance aircraft, 85 Australian Defence Force (ADF) personnel, and Advanced Medium Range Air-to-Air Missiles (AMRAAMs) to the Gulf region at the request of United Arab Emirates President Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan. The mission…
Eve Air Mobility, a developer of electric vertical take-off and landing (eVTOL) aircraft listed on NYSE (EVEX, EVEXW) and B3 (EVEB31), has formed a strategic collaboration with Sydney-based Alt Air and Skyports Infrastructure. The partnership targets eVTOL operations in New…
Billy Bishop Toronto City Airport launched its U.S. Customs and Border Protection preclearance facility on March 10, 2026, enabling U.S.-bound passengers to complete customs, immigration, and agriculture inspections before departure. Canada’s Transport Minister Steven MacKinnon announced the opening during a…
Sikorsky, a Lockheed Martin company, targets three significant first flights in 2026 amid advancing its rotorcraft portfolio. The hybrid-electric demonstrator HEX, developed with GE Aerospace, leads the lineup. Disclosed at Heli-Expo on 7 March, HEX features a CT7 turboshaft engine,…
LATAM Airlines Group has signed lease agreements with CDB Aviation for five Airbus A321-271NX aircraft, scheduled for delivery in the second quarter of 2026. The deal, announced on the sidelines of the ISTAT Americas conference, builds on an existing lease…
Solar maximum presents a counterintuitive advantage for Mars missions by reducing exposure to galactic cosmic rays (GCR), despite heightened solar particle event (SPE) risks. GCR doses vary twofold over the 11-year solar cycle, peaking at solar minimum when solar modulation…
The US and Israeli attack on Iran on 28 February 2026, followed by Iran’s retaliatory strikes, has closed the Strait of Hormuz, through which nearly 25% of global jet fuel exports transit. This conflict has driven sharp increases in jet…
The Iran conflict has driven jet fuel prices from a pre-war baseline of $85-$90 per barrel to $150-$200, disrupting key Middle East supply routes including the Strait of Hormuz and prompting airlines worldwide to raise fares and add surcharges. Qantas…
French investigators from the Bureau d’Enquêtes et d’Analyses (BEA) have revealed that a Loganair ATR 72-600 experienced stick-shaker activation during rotation following an apparent aborted takeoff attempt from Jersey Airport on February 19, 2026. The aircraft, registered G-LMTJ, was departing…
Bell’s high-speed vertical lift demonstrator for DARPA’s SPRINT program has received the official X-76 designation after passing its Critical Design Review, transitioning from design to manufacturing, integration, assembly, and ground testing. The SPRINT program, a joint DARPA and U.S. Special…
The White House dismissed National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) member Todd Inman on March 6, 2026, citing reports of inappropriate alcohol use on the job, staff harassment, misuse of government resources, and failure to attend at least half of NTSB…
Airbus delivered 793 commercial aircraft in 2025, a 4% increase from 766 in 2024, but monthly rates fell short of expectations throughout the year. The European manufacturer targeted 820 deliveries, yet persistent supply chain issues limited output, with an average…
The Royal Navy has deployed Merlin and Wildcat helicopters to RAF Akrotiri in Cyprus, enhancing aerial defenses amid rising regional tensions. A Merlin Mk2 helicopter configured for airborne surveillance and control (ASaC), operated by 820 Naval Air Squadron, departed Royal…
Nigeria’s first M-346FA light attack aircraft completed its maiden flight on March 7, 2026, at Leonardo’s facilities in Italy, sporting the official delivery grey paint scheme. This milestone advances the Nigerian Air Force’s €1.2 billion ($1.39 billion) program, signed in…
The U.S. Air Force is expanding production of the Stand-in Attack Weapon (SiAW) missile to equip F-35 fighters for targeting mobile air defenses. This initiative addresses anti-access/area-denial (A2/AD) networks by striking theater ballistic missile launchers, cruise missile launchers, jammers, anti-satellite…
Uganda Airlines has wet-leased a Boeing 787-8 from Ethiopian Airlines to resume long-haul operations to London Gatwick and Mumbai following the grounding of its two Airbus A330-800neo aircraft for unscheduled maintenance. The carrier announced the suspension of these services on…
Six operators of the Sikorsky S-92 helicopter renewed multi-year Total Assurance Program (TAP) contracts during 2025 and early 2026, covering nearly 100 aircraft worldwide. Sikorsky, a Lockheed Martin company, provides this power-by-the-hour service, enabling operators to manage flights at a…
Airbus Helicopters has unveiled the ACH140 cabin, the VIP variant of its H140 light twin-engine helicopter, at Verticon 2026 in Atlanta on March 9, 2026. The ACH140 targets private and business aviation with entry into service planned for 2030, following…
US and European airline shares declined sharply on Wednesday as crude oil prices exceeded $100 per barrel, intensifying cost pressures on carriers already navigating high fuel expenses. Brent crude futures climbed above $100 amid geopolitical tensions and supply constraints, reversing…
The first Embraer E-Freighter, an E190 converted from passenger-to-freight configuration, has entered commercial service in Europe with launch customer Bridges Air Cargo. On March 9, 2026, the aircraft completed its inaugural flight from Cologne, Germany, to Larnaca, Cyprus, carrying time-sensitive…
The International Air Transport Association (IATA) released its 2025 Annual Safety Report on March 9, 2026, showing aviation maintained strong safety performance despite challenges. The all-accident rate stood at 1.32 per million flights—one accident every 759,646 flights—improving from 1.42 in…
Airhub Aviation has signed a strategic maintenance, repair, and overhaul (MRO) agreement with aircraft lessor AerCap, designating its Šiauliai International Airport (SQQ) facility in Lithuania as a key provider for base maintenance and aircraft redelivery services. The partnership targets narrow-body…
European airport passenger traffic increased by 4.6% in January 2026 compared to January 2025, according to ACI Europe data covering over 450 airports and 95% of the network. International demand drove the growth at 5.5%, while domestic traffic rose 1.8%…
Switzerland’s Federal Council has reduced its F-35A stealth fighter order from 36 to approximately 30 aircraft following unresolved pricing disputes with the United States and escalating costs. The decision keeps the procurement within the CHF 6 billion ($7.54 billion) budget…
Royal Norwegian Air Force F-35A fighters conducted a live-fire exercise on March 9, 2026, in Norway, releasing four GBU-31 Joint Direct Attack Munition bombs. NATO Allied Air Command reported the drill involved two aircraft demonstrating heavy precision weapon delivery in…
An Israeli airstrike on March 6, 2026, at Tehran Mehrabad International Airport destroyed the last operational Boeing 747-100 worldwide, a 55-year-old KC-747 aerial refueling tanker operated by the Islamic Republic of Iran Air Force. Registered as 5-8107 with manufacturer serial…
SkyDrive Inc., a Japanese eVTOL manufacturer, signed a Letter of Intent (LOI) with MASC, the Okayama Kurashiki Mizushima Aero & Space Industry Cluster Study Group, for the purchase of two SKYDRIVE (SD-05 model) aircraft. The agreement specifies delivery of both…
NASA’s Double Asteroid Redirection Test (DART) spacecraft, which collided with the moonlet Dimorphos in September 2022, changed the orbital period of the Didymos-Dimorphos binary system around the Sun by 0.15 seconds. The 770-day solar orbit shifted due to the impact’s…
Australia’s Department of Defence has protested an unsafe encounter between a People’s Liberation Army Navy (PLAN) helicopter and an Australian Sikorsky MH-60R Seahawk over international waters in the Yellow Sea on March 4, 2026. The MH-60R, launched from the Anzac-class…
Arlington, Washington-based Eviation Aircraft, developer of the all-electric Alice commuter plane, has laid off most of its employees and paused development after failing to secure new funding. The company, founded in Israel in 2015 and majority-owned by Singapore’s Clermont Group,…
Middle East airlines are gradually resuming limited operations on March 9, 2026, following days of widespread airspace closures triggered by regional conflict. As of March 1, major hubs including Israel’s Ben Gurion International (TLV), UAE’s Dubai International (DXB) and Al…
Brazilian carrier GOL Linhas Aéreas, historically an all-Boeing 737 operator, will introduce widebody aircraft for the first time with five Airbus A330-900neos leased from Avolon via parent company Abra Group. Deliveries are scheduled in phases through 2026 and 2027, with…
A Boeing 737-800 operated by Garuda Indonesia, registration PK-GFF, landed at Pekanbaru Airport on March 7, 2026, with severe damage to its radome that went undetected during flight. The aircraft, flying Garuda Indonesia Flight GA176 from Jakarta’s Soekarno-Hatta International Airport…
Missiles and attack drones targeted the United Arab Emirates at the outset of the Iran war, sparking panic among executives, tourists, and expatriates in Dubai. Private aviation firms faced a surge in evacuation requests, with Bitlux founder Kyle Patel reporting…
Portugal’s National Space Authority, ANACOM, has granted the first commercial space re-entry license in Europe to ATMOS Space Cargo for operations off the Azores island of Santa Maria. Issued as license ANACOM-09/2026-AE on February 24, 2026, under national space law,…
United Airlines has updated its Contract of Carriage to require passengers to use headphones for in-cabin audio or video playback, authorizing refusal of transport, removal from flights, or bans for non-compliance. The policy, added on February 27, 2026, falls under…