Corendon Airlines will drop Birmingham, Newcastle and London Gatwick from its UK summer 2027 programme, while keeping Antalya services from Glasgow, Manchester and London Stansted. The leisure carrier is trimming capacity after a difficult trading year, with geopolitical uncertainty, high fuel costs and shifting demand weighing on its planning for next summer.

The network change narrows Corendon’s UK footprint from six airports to three for the season. Glasgow will retain two weekly Antalya flights, while Manchester and Stansted will each keep three weekly services. UK country manager Matthew Carpenter described the move as a short-term reaction and indicated that conditions will be reviewed again in January.

The reduction affects a key leisure link between the UK and Antalya and could influence seat availability across the market for summer 2027. Birmingham, Newcastle and Gatwick are removed from the schedule for now, although Corendon has left open the option of returning if trading conditions improve.

Telespazio Ibérica and Space42’s Mira Aerospace have begun a wildfire-monitoring mission in Spain using the ApusNeo18 high-altitude platform system, with the first flight departing from the Canarias Stratoport for HAPS & UAS on Fuerteventura. The 29-hour sortie reached about 16,000 feet, setting two European HAPS records while transmitting live high-resolution video and imagery from electro-optical and infrared sensors.

The campaign is being carried out under the ISSEC project, promoted by the Fuerteventura Technology Park, and extends earlier ApusNeo18 testing for Telespazio Ibérica. The companies plan multiple flights through October, gradually increasing altitude and range as the mission progresses.

The operational concept is aimed at demonstrating the platform’s value for wildfire detection and management, with the next phase expected to push the aircraft towards the stratosphere and extend coverage towards Gran Canaria. Publicly available details so far focus on the first flight and the planned campaign in October, with fuller operational results still to come.

ESA astronaut Pablo Álvarez has completed the latest PANGAEA field-training stage in Lanzarote, where the programme used volcanic terrain to prepare astronauts for future lunar and Martian geology work. The final leg took place around Tinguatón and the Parque Natural de los Volcanes, with ESA project lead Loredana Bessone and local authorities joining the event.

The three-week course moved from Italy to Germany before ending in the Canary Islands, using lava fields, caves and volcanic tubes as analogues for off-world exploration. Participants trained to read terrain, collect samples and coordinate with science teams, a skill set ESA links to future surface operations on the Moon and Mars.

Álvarez, who joined ESA’s astronaut corps in 2022 and completed basic astronaut training in 2024, described the work as part of a longer preparation path rather than a mission selection. He also underlined that much more still needs to happen before a Spanish astronaut reaches the Moon. Lanzarote has become a recurring analogue site for ESA geology training, reflecting its value for studying lava chronology, volcanic morphology and possible water-volcanism interactions.

NASA and Boeing plan to send the Starliner spacecraft to the International Space Station without a crew as early as December or January, before resuming astronaut flights with the Starliner-2 mission targeted for 2028. The move keeps Boeing’s commercial crew vehicle in the programme after prolonged technical setbacks and sets up a test flight intended to clear the way for a later crewed return to the ISS.

The uncrewed Starliner-1 mission will be used to validate spacecraft improvements, gather flight data and complete the remaining testing and certification work needed before astronauts fly again. NASA Administrator Jared Isaacman said the agency’s current plan is to return astronauts on Starliner-2 by 2028, while Boeing and NASA will continue working through corrective actions identified after the 2024 crewed test flight.

NASA is also expected to support certification of the Vulcan rocket for future Starliner crew transport, as the Atlas V nears the end of its role in the programme. NASA astronaut Woody Hoburg is expected to command Starliner-2, although the mission’s exact launch timing remains a target rather than a fixed date.

SpaceX’s Starship reached Earth orbit for the first time during its 14th test flight from Starbase in South Texas on 28 September, even after an engine problem during ascent led mission managers to shorten the flight. The vehicle later deployed 26 next-generation Starlink satellites before splashing down in the Pacific Ocean, ending the mission after about three hours rather than the roughly 10 hours originally planned.

The flight marks a major step for SpaceX’s largest rocket, which had previously only completed suborbital test missions. It also provided the first orbital payload deployment for Starship, using the upper stage to place the satellites after orbital insertion. SpaceX initially considered aborting the orbital attempt because of the engine issue, but continued with the mission once the spacecraft had reached space.

The early return means the test was not fully nominal, as the vehicle did not complete the intended six orbits or the full-duration demonstration. Even so, the result advances validation of the Starship system for future lunar and Mars missions, while also supporting the company’s next-generation Starlink deployment plans.

NASA and SpaceX cleared the Crew-13 mission to continue towards launch after a Flight Readiness Review at Kennedy Space Center in Florida on 25 September, keeping the target liftoff time at no earlier than 11:10 a.m. EDT on 1 October from Space Launch Complex 40 at Cape Canaveral Space Force Station. The commercial crew flight will carry four astronauts and cosmonauts to the International Space Station on a long-duration science mission.

The crew comprises NASA astronauts Jessica Watkins and Luke Delaney, CSA astronaut Joshua Kutryk and Roscosmos cosmonaut Sergey Teteryatnikov. Docking is planned about nine hours after liftoff if the launch proceeds on schedule, with the mission supporting Expedition 75 and continuing routine NASA commercial crew rotations to the station.

The spacecraft and rocket rolled out to the pad and stood vertical at Space Launch Complex 40 by 28 September, signalling that final pre-launch work remained on track. The crew arrived at Kennedy on 26 September and entered quarantine and final preparations ahead of the launch window.

Crew-13 is SpaceX’s 13th crew rotation mission for NASA and its 14th flight carrying NASA astronauts to the station, including Demo-2. NASA and SpaceX had previously delayed the mission after an oxidiser leak in the Dragon spacecraft, then resumed towards the 1 October target after repairs and readiness checks.

The Federal Aviation Administration is delaying certification of Boeing’s 737 MAX 10 until a newly disclosed software issue is resolved, pushing back approval of the largest 737 MAX variant and the last major model in the family still awaiting clearance. The regulator has not set a timetable for the review, which could affect Boeing’s delivery plans and wider narrowbody programme schedule.

FAA Administrator Bryan Bedford said the agency has not yet determined whether the bug is a safety-of-flight issue, but certification will remain on hold until regulators are satisfied there is no problem. The issue affects certain 737 MAX aircraft and can interrupt automated flight guidance during a specific landing scenario, particularly after a missed approach or go-around.

Boeing disclosed the problem over the weekend and is developing a software update while notifying operators. The fault is tied to vertical navigation behaviour during landing recovery and can increase pilot workload in rare circumstances. Reuters reported that a Corrective Action Review Board was expected to examine the matter.

Germany’s Federal Bureau of Aircraft Accident Investigation has identified brake inputs during the takeoff roll as a key line of inquiry in the Munich overrun involving a Vietnam Airlines Boeing 787-9. The aircraft, operating a scheduled flight to Hanoi with 271 passengers, 12 cabin crew and four pilots on board, overran the runway on 15 August, struck approach lighting and sustained substantial damage, though no injuries were reported.

Flight recorder data show movement of the left-seat brake pedals shortly after the takeoff run began, followed by further brake-system activation before liftoff. The aircraft remained at roughly 168 knots for about 18 seconds before thrust was increased again shortly before rotation. The pilot in the left seat was a 64-year-old captain with extensive experience, while the captain normally responsible for the flight was seated on the jump seat.

The BFU has secured brake-related components, including Brake System Control Units and Electric Brake Actuator Controllers, for further examination. The interim report does not yet determine whether the braking resulted from pilot action or a technical malfunction, and the investigation remains open.

Syria’s civil aviation authority has granted Fly Dar Airlines an Air Operator Certificate, clearing the private carrier to begin operations and making it the first Syrian private airline to receive such approval since the fall of Bashar al-Assad’s government. The certificate was handed over at the authority’s headquarters in Damascus, with the airline set to base its operations at Damascus International Airport.

The approval followed a five-stage certification process that took about six months and covered regulatory, technical and operational requirements. Fly Dar is now described as Syria’s third national air operator, alongside state-owned Syrian Airlines and privately owned Fly Cham.

The carrier plans domestic services to Aleppo, Latakia, Deir ez-Zor and Qamishli, although it has not disclosed a launch date for scheduled flights. Fleet details also remain unclear. The certificate fits into a wider push by Syrian authorities to reopen and restructure the country’s aviation sector through private investment and new commercial operators.

Sun PhuQuoc Airways will launch daily direct flights between Ho Chi Minh City and Shanghai Pudong on 15 October, adding seven weekly frequencies on one of the busiest Vietnam–China corridors. The new service will be the airline’s first daily nonstop route to mainland China and will be operated with Airbus A320 and A321 family aircraft.

The expansion extends the carrier’s mainland China network beyond its earlier Chengdu links to Phu Quoc and Ho Chi Minh City. It also broadens Sun PhuQuoc Airways’ reach from its island-focused base into a denser business and leisure market centred on Tan Son Nhat and Pudong.

Further China growth is already planned. Shanghai–Hanoi services are expected to follow in November, while Shanghai–Phu Quoc is slated for March 2027. Additional mainland China routes under consideration include services from Shenzhen, Beijing and Chongqing to both Phu Quoc and Ho Chi Minh City.

Iran has warned that regional air travel could be disrupted more broadly if its airlines remain blocked from flights and airport services, after fresh U.S. sanctions and new restrictions from neighbouring states tightened pressure on the country’s aviation sector. The warning comes as the UAE suspended all flights by Iranian carriers, while Oman, Iraq, Georgia and Azerbaijan have also curtailed services on routes linking Iranian airlines to regional airports.

The latest measures have sharply reduced Iran’s international connectivity and are affecting passenger traffic, pilgrimage flows and airport operations across the Middle East. Routes to Baghdad, Muscat, Najaf, Erbil and Sulaymaniyah have been hit, with some services cancelled and others suspended indefinitely. Certain links to China, Russia and Turkey have continued, but Gulf-state access has been cut back significantly.

Mohammad Mokhber, a senior adviser to Iran’s supreme leader, framed the dispute as a reciprocal issue, warning that if Iran cannot access flights and airport services, other countries in the region should not expect to keep the same privileges. The pressure appears aimed not only at Iranian carriers but also at foreign airports and service providers that continue to handle sanctioned airlines, raising the risk of further secondary-sanctions fallout.

American Airlines has launched an in-app seat-monitoring feature that automatically moves eligible AAdvantage members to a preferred seat when one becomes available. The tool, available in the American app, lets solo travellers on single-passenger bookings choose seat preferences such as window, aisle or middle, with changes limited to the same cabin and no extra seat charge.

The feature works only for eligible AAdvantage members with assigned seats and stops within 24 hours of departure. Once a matching seat opens up, the app updates the reservation and sends a notification, removing the need for repeated seat-map checks before a flight. American will not move customers into higher-priced paid seats, even if those seats match their preferences.

The airline framed the update as a convenience measure within its mobile app, which already supports seat selection and other trip-management functions. The new option adds another layer of automation for customers who want a better chance of securing a preferred seat without manually monitoring availability.

Oman Air is widening its codeshare partnership with Lufthansa on four routes to Poland, adding services between Frankfurt and Gdańsk, Frankfurt and Poznań, Frankfurt and Wrocław, and Munich and Wrocław. The expanded coverage is due to begin on 25 September and gives Oman Air customers more one-stop access to Polish destinations via Lufthansa’s German hubs.

The move extends an existing cooperation rather than introducing a new Oman Air-operated service. Lufthansa will operate the flights, while Oman Air markets seats under its own code, a standard arrangement that broadens network reach without adding aircraft or frequencies to Oman Air’s own schedule.

The addition strengthens links between the Gulf carrier’s route network and Lufthansa’s Central European feed, with Wrocław gaining access from both Frankfurt and Munich. The Poland focus also adds another layer to the airlines’ wider partnership, which already covers multiple European city pairs and supports onward connectivity for travellers across both networks.

The UK Civil Aviation Authority has launched an independent review into the 8 September NATS outage that disrupted more than 2,000 flights across Britain, with an initial report due by the end of January 2027 and a final report due by 8 March 2027. The probe will examine the cause of the failure, the impact on passengers and the resilience of the national air traffic control system.

The review comes after a software defect in NATS’s flight data system triggered widespread delays, cancellations and diversions at major airports including Heathrow, Gatwick, Manchester and Stansted. Transport Secretary Heidi Alexander has asked the regulator to assess not only the immediate disruption but also how well NATS is prepared to deliver a more resilient service in future.

The CAA will also study NATS’s plans to renew and modernise critical systems, its business continuity arrangements and the extent to which earlier recommendations have been implemented. NATS said it will cooperate fully with the review. The scrutiny is the second major systems failure at the UK provider to come under regulatory examination in three years.

Uzbekistan Airways has selected Chinese seat maker Jiatai to equip its new Airbus A321neo fleet with passenger seats, including the JT220B Premium business-class seat fitted with an in-flight entertainment system. The carrier will become the launch customer for the seat, while the agreement covers more than 10 aircraft and Jiatai’s first cabin project in Central Asia.

Jiatai was chosen on 15 June 2026, with the first shipset due in March 2028. The A321neos are set to join the Uzbekistan Airways fleet from 2028 onward, forming part of a cabin modernisation programme built around comfort and functionality requirements for both business and economy class.

The JT220B Premium seat is electrically adjustable and includes ambient lighting, privacy dividers, headrest wings and a zero-gravity position. The order expands Jiatai’s presence beyond its home market and gives Uzbekistan Airways a premium narrowbody cabin product for its next-generation fleet.

German investigators have found that a Vietnam Airlines Boeing 787-9 activated its brakes multiple times during the takeoff roll at Munich Airport, leading to a runway overrun and tail strike on 15 August. The BFU interim report, released on 28 September, says the aircraft bound for Hanoi ran out of paved runway before lifting off, damaging runway lights and causing substantial damage to the jet, while all passengers and crew escaped injury.

Flight-recorder data showed left brake-pedal movement early in the roll, with further braking later as speed briefly stalled at around 168 knots. The aircraft lifted off only after reaching the grass beyond the runway end. Investigators have not yet determined why the braking occurred and have seized brake-system components, including control units and electric brake actuator controllers, for further analysis.

The report shifts attention from a simple overrun to a more complex question involving possible crew input, brake-system behaviour or another control issue during a high-weight long-haul departure. Cockpit audio was overwritten, limiting one line of evidence, while the aircraft struck runway-end lighting and was later described as substantially damaged.

SpaceX’s Starship reached Earth orbit for the first time on its 14th test flight on Monday, deploying 26 Starlink V3 satellites before the uncrewed mission ended earlier than planned. The vehicle launched from Starbase in Boca Chica, Texas, and splashed down in the northern Pacific near Hawaii after mission control cut the flight short following an engine issue during ascent.

The flight was originally planned as a roughly 10-hour, six-orbit test, but one of Starship’s main engines shut down prematurely after separation from the Super Heavy booster. SpaceX shortened the mission to about three hours while keeping the test’s main objectives intact. The booster still completed a controlled splashdown.

The deployment was Starship’s first operational payload release and a key step for SpaceX’s heavy-lift architecture. The 26 satellites were reported to be operating normally after deployment, giving the company its first orbital Starlink payload delivery from the vehicle. The result advances Starship’s role in future Starlink expansion and in longer-term lunar and Mars transport plans.

RTX’s Raytheon has secured a five-year multiyear contract worth up to $20.7 billion to accelerate production of the Advanced Medium-Range Air-to-Air Missile, or AMRAAM, under the Pentagon’s Arsenal of Freedom effort. The award includes two option years and is tied to record-rate output of the missile at Raytheon’s Tucson, Arizona site, with work scheduled to run through 30 June 2033.

The contract covers U.S. and allied demand and was structured as a sole-source award. Foreign military sales customers listed in the deal include Australia, Belgium, Canada, the Czech Republic, Denmark, Finland, Germany, Italy, Japan, Kuwait, the Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Sweden, Taiwan and the United Kingdom.

The agreement is part of a wider push to rebuild missile inventories strained by conflicts in the Middle East and Ukraine. Raytheon had earlier set a goal of producing at least 1,900 AMRAAM missiles a year, and the new contract is intended to support that ramp-up. The $20.7 billion figure represents the maximum stated value, while full execution still depends on congressional funding for the multiyear commitment.

The FAA has proposed a $260,868 civil penalty against ExcelAire, LLC, accusing the New York and Georgia aircraft management and charter provider of conducting unauthorized charter operations after its air carrier certificate was surrendered in June 2025. The agency says ExcelAire flew two paid flights in August 2025 without the required qualified management personnel in place.

In the enforcement notice, the FAA said the company’s director of operations surrendered the certificate after that official and the rest of the required management team resigned. The regulator also alleged that ExcelAire lacked the qualified management personnel needed to ensure safe operations and that the conduct was careless or reckless and endangered lives and property.

ExcelAire has 30 days from receiving the notice to respond. The case adds to continued FAA scrutiny of charter and aircraft-management compliance, particularly where certificate status and required staffing are concerned.

American Airlines has introduced an app feature that monitors seat availability against customers’ preferences and automatically moves eligible AAdvantage members to a matching seat when one opens up. The tool is designed for single-passenger reservations with an assigned seat and is available up to 24 hours before departure.

The feature lets customers choose preferences such as window, aisle or middle after booking, reducing the need to repeatedly check the seat map before travel. Seat changes stay within the customer’s existing cabin and do not trigger extra charges. American will not move passengers into a higher-priced paid seat even if it matches their criteria.

The app also sends a notification when an automatic change is made. Preference controls remain with the customer, who can guide the settings used by the feature. The rollout details beyond publication day were not specified.

The US Senate has passed two bipartisan bills aimed at improving mental health access and medication guidance for pilots and air traffic controllers, sending the measures to the House. The John A. Hauser Mental Health in Aviation Act and the Aviation Medication Transparency Act both passed by unanimous consent in Washington, with Senators John Hoeven and Tammy Duckworth sponsoring the legislation.

The mental health bill would require the Federal Aviation Administration to update rules and guidance for aviation workers who disclose a diagnosis, while also expanding examiner training, public education and periodic reviews of the special issuance process. It would authorise up to $15 million a year for fiscal 2026 through 2028 to support implementation. The medication bill directs the FAA to publish plain-language guidance on approved medications within a year and update it annually.

The measures are intended to reduce stigma and make it easier for pilots and controllers to seek treatment without fear of career damage, while also easing uncertainty over FAA medical certification. Final enactment still depends on House approval before the FAA can begin any rulemaking or guidance changes.

The US Federal Aviation Administration is delaying certification of Boeing’s 737 MAX 10 while it reviews a newly disclosed software problem affecting some MAX aircraft. FAA Administrator Bryan Bedford said approval will not move forward until regulators are satisfied there is no safety issue, pushing back a long-awaited milestone for the largest version of the 737 MAX family.

Boeing disclosed the issue on 26 September, saying the glitch could interrupt access to automated flight guidance in a specific missed-approach or go-around scenario. The company has informed operators and is working on a software fix. The problem is under review through an FAA Corrective Action Review Board, and Bedford indicated the delay could last days, weeks or longer, depending on the outcome of that process.

The timing is significant for Boeing because the MAX 10 had been nearing certification after years of postponements. The aircraft is the biggest member of the 737 MAX line and a key part of Boeing’s narrowbody programme. The issue may extend beyond the MAX 10, but the immediate impact is on the certification schedule for the model most closely tied to the manufacturer’s current delivery plans.

SpaceX’s Starship reached orbit for the first time during its 14th test flight from Starbase in south Texas on Monday, despite an unexpected engine shutdown during ascent. The mission carried 26 next-generation Starlink satellites, completed orbital insertion and then ended early with a controlled splashdown in the Pacific Ocean after the flight was cut to about three hours.

One of the upper-stage engines shut down earlier than planned, briefly putting the attempt in doubt before mission control cleared the vehicle to continue. SpaceX had originally planned a much longer multi-orbit test, but shortened the flight after the anomaly. The result gives the company a key demonstration that Starship can survive an engine failure and still reach orbit, an important step for the programme’s future launch and satellite deployment ambitions.

ITU and the World Meteorological Organization have called on governments and regulators to safeguard radio-frequency spectrum used by meteorological and Earth-observation systems, as the two agencies opened a joint seminar in Geneva. The appeal came alongside the launch of a new handbook for weather, climate, water and related environmental applications, with the guidance aimed at protecting the frequencies underpinning forecasts, early warnings and climate monitoring.

The seminar at ITU headquarters runs from 28 to 30 September and brings together spectrum regulators, meteorological authorities, satellite experts and industry representatives. The agencies warned that rising demand for wireless and satellite services is increasing interference risks for bands needed by weather radar, lightning detection, radiosondes, satellites and hydrological monitoring systems.

ITU Secretary-General Doreen Bogdan-Martin and WMO Secretary-General Celeste Saulo fronted the launch of the updated handbook, which sets out technical and regulatory guidance for spectrum management. The publication is intended to support more informed decisions ahead of future World Radiocommunication Conference work, including preparations for WRC-27, where spectrum issues relevant to meteorology are expected to remain on the agenda.

Vietjet has signed a strategic partnership with Starlink to provide free high-speed Wi-Fi on Vietjet-branded flights across its domestic and international network. The initial rollout covers 120 aircraft, including 100 Airbus A321 and Boeing 737 jets and 20 Airbus A330s, with all future deliveries also slated to receive the service.

The agreement was reached in New York during the working visit to the United States by Vietnam’s General Secretary and President To Lam. Vietjet is positioning the satellite link for operations beyond conventional coverage areas, including over oceans and in remote regions, where low-latency connectivity can support long-haul and thin-route services.

The move extends Starlink further into commercial aviation at a time when airlines are seeking wider, more reliable onboard connectivity. For Vietjet, the plan ties the service to fleet growth rather than a one-off retrofit programme, allowing the network to expand in step with future aircraft arrivals.

Avolon has agreed to sell a 33-aircraft portfolio to Lesha Bank LLC (Public) in a deal that expands the Qatari lender’s aviation platform and adds to its managed fleet. The portfolio comprises commercial aircraft leased to 25 airlines worldwide and will be managed by Lesha Aviation Services after completion, taking Lesha Bank’s total managed fleet to more than 75 aircraft.

The transaction covers a diversified mix of leased assets rather than a single aircraft type or airline. It highlights continued institutional appetite for aircraft portfolios backed by long-term lease income and extends the relationship between Avolon and Lesha Bank. The companies did not disclose the transaction value or a breakdown of aircraft types in the material available.

Eurowings has returned an Airbus A320 to operational service after the aircraft was removed from flying duties for inspection following a smoke development incident at Düsseldorf. The jet, which had turned back shortly after departure on a flight to Brindisi, has now been cleared to fly again after technical checks by the airline’s teams.

The earlier event occurred after smoke was reported on board soon after take-off, prompting a precautionary return to Düsseldorf and the disembarkation of passengers. The aircraft remained on the ground while engineers examined it, with the update now confirming that the inspection outcome was sufficient for the aircraft to re-enter the fleet.

The return to service closes an operational disruption for Eurowings on a narrow-body aircraft used on short-haul routes. It also restores capacity after a brief grounding period linked to an onboard-smoke precaution, with no further details released on the technical findings or the next scheduled rotation for the aircraft.

Lufthansa’s second Boeing 747-8I for the U.S. Air Force left Frankfurt on 26 September and flew to Pinal Airpark in Arizona under flight number LH9866. The aircraft, D-ABYG, will support the presidential airlift programme by feeding the future VC-25B Air Force One fleet with spare parts.

The jet, serial number 37831, entered Lufthansa service in March 2013 and carried the name Baden-Württemberg. Its final commercial flight took place on 31 August, from Los Angeles to Frankfurt, before it was prepared for transfer. Lufthansa removed the airline’s livery and external markings before departure, confirming the aircraft had exited the passenger fleet.

The move follows the earlier transfer of Lufthansa’s first 747-8I to the United States and extends a broader arrangement under which the U.S. Air Force is securing retired 747-8s for training and sustainment. The company continues to monetise older long-haul widebodies as its 747 fleet rolls over, while Boeing advances the VC-25B replacement programme.

The Swiss Museum of Transport in Lucerne is marking 25 years since the Swissair grounding with a remembrance element in its Air and Space Days programme from 2 to 4 October. The museum will screen Grounding – Die letzten Tage der Swissair in its film theatre on 2 October, the anniversary of the day in 2001 when Swissair ceased operations and its fleet was grounded.

The programme links the anniversary to the museum’s wider aviation and space theme days, which also feature helicopter displays, model aircraft activities, hot-air balloon launches and drone flying under supervision. The grounding remains one of the most enduring symbols in Swiss aviation history, and the film screening adds a public-facing memory component to the event at the Lucerne venue. Admission to the special screening is set at CHF 5 for the anniversary showing.

The Federal Aviation Administration has ended single-pilot exemptions for older Cessna Citation CE-500 family jets that were originally certificated for two pilots, forcing affected aircraft back to two-crew operations once the policy takes effect in the Federal Register. The move covers the Citation 500/I, Citation II, Citation S/II, Citation V/Ultra, Citation Bravo and Citation Encore/Encore+, as well as the military T-47A variant.

The FAA moved after a compliance review found widespread noncompliance among exemption holders, including incomplete records and improper or falsified training and checking practices. It also cited accident data indicating that Part 25 CE-500 aircraft flown with one pilot were involved in roughly twice as many accidents as comparable Part 23 Citation models operated single-pilot.

The agency is not changing the type certificates for the aircraft. Instead, it is withdrawing the exemption relief that had allowed qualified pilots to operate them alone, meaning a qualified second-in-command will now be required. The policy is expected to affect a sizeable slice of the business aviation fleet, with one estimate putting the number of impacted US-registered aircraft at about 1,250.

South Korea’s air force has received its first production KF-21 Boramae fighter from Korea Aerospace Industries, with the aircraft handed over at the company’s Sacheon plant and then flown to Yecheon Air Base, where it will enter service with the reactivated 156th Fighter Squadron. The delivery of aircraft 26-001 on 22 September moves the indigenous combat jet from development into operational use and begins the build-up toward more than 100 aircraft planned for phased introduction through the early 2030s.

Several reports identified Maj. Han Jae-seok as the pilot who signed the acceptance documents and ferried the twin-seat fighter to its first operational base. The air force plans to use Yecheon as the KF-21’s initial home while pilot transition and maintenance training continue, with initial operational capability targeted for the second half of 2027. The delivery flight was accompanied by FA-50, TA-50 and T-50 aircraft, highlighting the wider Korean-built training and light-combat fleet supporting the programme.

American Airlines has launched a new codeshare partnership with STARLUX Airlines to expand trans-Pacific options between North America and Taipei. The agreement lets American place its code on STARLUX-operated flights from Taipei Taoyuan International Airport to Los Angeles, Ontario, San Francisco and Seattle, with select itineraries available to book immediately for travel from 30 September.

The partnership gives American a stronger Taipei presence without operating the long-haul service itself, while STARLUX gains broader access into the US through American’s domestic network. A Phoenix-Taipei codeshare is planned but remains subject to regulatory approval. Eligible itineraries can be booked on aa.com and in the American app, and AAdvantage members can earn miles and Loyalty Points on qualifying codeshare flights.

The arrangement builds on an earlier interline relationship and extends single-ticket booking and through-checked baggage across the two carriers’ networks. STARLUX cabins sold through American include Business Class, Premium Economy and Economy Class, adding more connection options for travellers linking North America, Taipei and onward Asia routes.

Austrian Airlines and Austria’s Bundesheer have started a pilot-sharing cooperation that sends two military pilots, one helicopter pilot and one jet pilot, into Airbus A320 type-rating training with the carrier from Monday. The programme is designed to keep experienced military aviators in service longer while giving the airline additional cockpit capacity during peak periods.

Under the model, the pilots are expected to remain in Bundesheer service for an extra ten years and then divide flying duties between the military and Austrian Airlines. The planned rotation runs from November to April for the Bundesheer and from May to October for Austrian Airlines. Training is due to finish in summer 2027, after which the two pilots should move into scheduled service with Austrian Airlines, with part-time employment for both employers planned from 2028.

The Bundesheer wants to retain know-how and build a reserve pilot pool, while the airline gains a flexible staffing buffer for seasonal demand and shortages. Until now, military pilots could leave after an eight-year minimum commitment and move into civil aviation. The project will be reviewed after its first season, and any broader rollout will depend on that evaluation as well as the 2027 and 2028 milestones.

Two Turkish Air Force pilots have begun training on RAF Typhoon fighter jets at RAF Coningsby in Lincolnshire, with the Royal Air Force’s 29 Squadron leading the conversion course. The move is part of the UK-Türkiye Eurofighter Typhoon programme, a deal worth more than £8 billion for 20 aircraft, and comes well before the first Turkish deliveries, currently expected in 2030.

The pilots are reported to be experienced combat aviators and the first Turkish aircrew to qualify on the Typhoon with the RAF. Their conversion training is due to last up to nine months, followed by three months of instructor training. After that, they are expected to remain with 29 Squadron as instructors until Türkiye receives its first aircraft.

The training effort sits alongside a wider support package covering pilots, technicians and maintenance personnel. Under the broader agreement, the UK is preparing Turkish crews for the introduction of the fighter into service, while BAE Systems is involved in support and training for the future fleet. Group Captain Batu of the Türkiye Programme Management Office welcomed the pilots as they began conversion training and highlighted the initial phase focused on Typhoon systems and UK military airspace procedures.

Rolls-Royce will invest £300 million in its UK manufacturing and engineering network, with spending targeted at sites in Derby, Bristol, Inchinnan near Glasgow, Rotherham and Ansty in Warwickshire. The programme is designed to expand capacity, upgrade facilities and support future work across the company’s civil aerospace and defence businesses.

The largest allocation is more than £140 million for Derby, where new engineering and manufacturing services facilities are due for completion in 2028. Bristol will receive more than £90 million for a major site upgrade, with work scheduled to finish in 2031. The site employs more than 3,500 people.

At Inchinnan, Rolls-Royce is investing £43 million in machinery for new engine components. Rotherham will receive £19 million for its Advanced Blade Casting Facility, alongside an additional £2 million from the South Yorkshire Mayoral Combined Authority, with output of advanced turbine blades expected to double by 2030. Ansty will get £5 million for machinery upgrades to improve manufacturing capability and efficiency.

The investment lifts Rolls-Royce’s UK spending to more than £3 billion since 2023, while the company spent more than £2.8 billion with UK suppliers in 2025.

Avolon and Lesha Bank have agreed a sale and purchase covering a 33-aircraft commercial portfolio leased to 25 airlines worldwide. The transaction, announced from Dublin and Doha, will see the assets transferred to Lesha Aviation Services after completion, lifting Lesha Bank’s managed fleet to more than 75 aircraft.

The deal expands Lesha Bank’s aviation platform and extends its exposure to leased commercial aircraft through a diversified portfolio spread across multiple operators. Avolon described the agreement as a significant step in its relationship with Lesha Bank, while the transaction also underlines continued institutional appetite for aviation assets backed by lease income.

One syndicated version said the acquisition is being carried out through an investment structure on behalf of Lesha Aviation Fund. Closing terms, pricing and the individual aircraft types were not disclosed in the available material.

A nor’easter has constrained Jet-A fuel deliveries into Boston Logan International Airport, prompting Massport to ask airlines to arrive with extra fuel and helping trigger wider operational disruption at the Boston hub. Delta Air Lines confirmed that weather has limited fuel deliveries into BOS and has been bringing aircraft in with additional fuel while using tanker trucks where possible.

Massport said Boston had enough fuel to get through the weekend, but fuel ships could not reach the airport until the storm passed. The issue reflects Logan’s dependence on marine fuel deliveries rather than a structural airport problem, with the main operational pressure coming from the weather system itself.

The fuel constraint landed alongside heavy disruption across the airport, where the nor’easter has driven widespread cancellations and delays. Some reporting indicated fuel barges were held at New York port until Monday, 28 September, underlining the temporary logistics bottleneck facing carriers operating into Boston.

Dassault Aviation has filed a complaint after damage was discovered at its Cergy plant near Paris, where Rafale fighter aircraft are assembled. A collaborator has been detained as French authorities investigate the case, which involves incidents reported across late 2025 and June 2026.

The plant in Val-d’Oise forms part of France’s combat-aircraft production chain and handles work on Rafale fuselage sections and related components. The company has not disclosed the nature of the damage or whether output was affected. French reporting links the case to an internal security issue rather than a confirmed external sabotage operation, with the investigation continuing under judicial supervision.

Catania-Fontanarossa airport remained under flight restrictions on Monday after airport operator SAC extended the suspension of arrivals and departures until midnight as volcanic ash from Mount Etna continued to affect operations. The Sicilian hub, Italy’s fifth-busiest airport by passenger traffic, was again hit by limited airspace availability, leaving passengers facing delays, cancellations and possible diversions.

The latest operational update followed earlier suspensions and extensions over the weekend, after ash and wind conditions forced repeated restrictions on the airport’s airspace sectors. SAC had already reduced traffic before the full shutdown, with landings capped at one stage before the limits were widened into a broader suspension. Travellers were urged to verify flight status with their airlines before heading to the terminal.

The disruption was the latest in a run of Etna-related interruptions that has affected Catania repeatedly in mid-September and again over the final days of the month. The exact operating status beyond the latest deadline depends on a fresh update from the airport operator.

Elbe Flugzeugwerke has signed a contract in Dresden to maintain NH90 transport helicopters for the German Bundeswehr, taking on the work as a direct contractor for the armed forces. The seven-year deal covers inspections and repairs, and Saxony’s Minister President Michael Kretschmer attended the signing ceremony.

The agreement gives EFW a new direct role in supporting NH90 availability for German military transport operations. The company had previously handled the helicopters only as a subcontractor, making this its first direct partnership with the Bundeswehr for the programme.

Operational work had already begun before the formal signing, with the first helicopters arriving in Dresden at the start of September. The maintenance scope includes regular inspections and repair work for the NH90 Tactical Transport Helicopter fleet, though no contract value or fleet size was disclosed.

GE Aerospace and Military Aviation Works No. 1 (WZL-1) have finalised an agreement in Dęblin, Poland, to build domestic maintenance, repair and overhaul capability for T700/CT7 engines used on the AH-64E Apache and other rotorcraft. The deal gives WZL-1 a licensed role in supporting the engine family for Polish military aircraft, including the Apache, Black Hawk, AW149 and AW101, and completes the offset-related industrial step linked to Poland’s Apache procurement.

The arrangement is tied to Poland’s order for 96 AH-64E Apache helicopters and is designed to reduce reliance on overseas engine support. WZL-1 will be able to service engines locally in Dęblin rather than sending them abroad for major work.

The agreement is also expected to broaden the country’s repair base for roughly 350 engines across several fleets. Reports on the deal place its value at about 550 million złoty and indicate that WZL-1 will develop full level-D overhaul capability for the T700 family, including technical training and specialist equipment.

Scandinavian Airlines has unveiled a new brand platform and slogan, “Scandinavian as Standard,” to coincide with its 80th anniversary. Developed with Ogilvy, the campaign will run across TV, online video, digital display, outdoor and social media as SAS refreshes its public identity for future communications.

The airline is using the anniversary moment to sharpen its brand positioning around Nordic values such as trust, collaboration, curiosity and openness. SAS frames the platform around the idea that the world needs more Scandinavia, with the slogan intended to appear in both domestic and international communications.

The move is a branding initiative rather than a change to fleet, network or onboard product. No new logo or corporate rebrand has been outlined, but the wider communications push signals how SAS plans to present itself commercially at a symbolic milestone.

Swiftair has been convicted by a Paris criminal court over the 2014 Air Algérie AH5017 disaster, with the Spanish operator ordered to pay the maximum corporate fine of €225,000. The ruling found that training and operational negligence contributed to the crash of the McDonnell Douglas MD-83 near Gossi in northern Mali, where all 116 people on board were killed.

The judgment closes the first-instance phase of a long-running case more than 12 years after the aircraft went down on a flight from Ouagadougou to Algiers. Prosecutors had pressed for the maximum penalty, while Swiftair denied responsibility and challenged the case on jurisdictional grounds. The court rejected those arguments and held the company criminally liable for involuntary manslaughter.

The aircraft had been wet-leased to Air Algérie with Swiftair crew. Investigators found the anti-icing system was not activated, allowing ice crystals to affect pressure sensors, reduce thrust automatically and trigger a stall. The court also accepted that insufficient refresher training and a lack of proper proficiency checks contributed to the accident.

Families of the victims welcomed the verdict as long-awaited accountability. Swiftair has 10 days to appeal, leaving the ruling open to review.

Russian authorities are considering a new surcharge on airline tickets to help finance leasing and operating costs for domestically built aircraft, including the MC-21, SJ-100 and Tu-214. The proposal, discussed by the Transport Ministry, Industry and Trade Ministry and Rostec, would shift part of the cost of Russia’s import-substitution aviation programme onto passengers while airlines receive support for using locally produced jets.

The measure is still at an early stage and no final decision has been taken on either the size of the fee or how it would be collected. The main version under discussion would add up to 500 rubles to domestic tickets and 1,000 rubles to international fares, while another option would set the levy higher at 700 rubles and 2,000 rubles respectively.

Funds would be channelled through the Transport Ministry to leasing companies and, initially, to carriers to offset the gap between the production cost of Russian aircraft and the lower prices airlines would pay under state support. Reporting linked to the proposal estimates the scheme could raise about 200 billion to 250 billion rubles between 2027 and 2030, or roughly 68 billion to 84 billion rubles a year at current traffic levels.

Air Canada has completed an $800 million substantial issuer bid, agreeing to buy back 27,586,206 Class A variable voting shares and Class B voting shares at $29 each. The transaction, carried out in Montréal, will leave about 252.7 million shares outstanding once the purchased stock is cancelled.

The offer was oversubscribed, with about 66.8 million shares validly deposited, so only around 41% of eligible shares tendered at or below the final price will be taken up, apart from odd-lot holdings. Settlement is due by 2 October 2026 through TSX Trust Company as depositary.

Air Canada financed the repurchase in part with proceeds from its minority equity investment in Aeroplan by funds managed by Blackstone and La Caisse, alongside other Canadian institutions. The airline had set the auction range at $29 to $33 per share before fixing the final purchase price at the bottom of that range.

The company also said the buyback will be cancelled and reduces its equity base to below pre-pandemic levels. For shareholders who tendered shares, Canadian tax treatment deems them to have received a dividend of $18.40 per share, based on an estimated paid-up capital of about $10.60 per share.

Sepang Aircraft Engineering, a wholly owned Airbus subsidiary, has won a 12-year maintenance contract from Cebu Pacific for seven Airbus A320 aircraft. The work covers heavy maintenance and end-of-lease checks and will be carried out at SAE’s facility at Kuala Lumpur International Airport in Malaysia, with the maintenance window expected between 2027 and 2028.

The agreement was unveiled in Singapore during the MRO Asia-Pacific event and extends an existing relationship between the two companies. SAE has previously handled ad hoc heavy maintenance, end-of-lease checks, engine changes and skin panel replacement for the Philippine carrier.

For Cebu Pacific, the deal supports continued airworthiness management for its narrowbody fleet as aircraft are prepared for return to lessors. For SAE, it secures multi-year demand at KLIA across a known customer base. The contract value was not disclosed.

A joint Navy-Marine Corps test team has completed the first lot acceptance test of sonobuoys from an MV-22B Osprey off San Clemente Island, California, using the tiltrotor as an alternate platform for the Navy’s sonobuoy quality assurance programme. The effort involved the Air Anti-Submarine Warfare Systems Program Office, the V-22 Joint Program Office and Marine Operational Test and Evaluation Squadron One.

The test was carried out on 19 August and publicly disclosed on 22 September. It demonstrated that the MV-22B can support quality assurance work when primary aircraft are unavailable, helping reduce testing backlogs and keep sonobuoy deliveries on schedule. Unlike the Navy’s usual automated drop method, the Osprey mission used manual launches from the rear cargo ramp.

The Navy has traditionally relied on P-3C Orion aircraft for this type of overwater validation, making the Osprey a substitute rather than a new tactical anti-submarine warfare asset. Even so, the result broadens the aircraft’s potential role beyond transport into undersea sensor logistics and fleet readiness support.

SpaceX is set to launch Starship Flight 14 from Starbase, Texas, on Monday, with the mission marking the rocket’s first orbital attempt and the first operational deployment of 26 Starlink V3 satellites. The flight follows FAA authorisation issued after 13 earlier suborbital Starship tests and is expected to be the vehicle’s first full step into commercial orbital use.

If the mission succeeds, Starship will carry the satellites into low Earth orbit before continuing a roughly 10-hour profile that includes several Earth circuits, a deorbit burn and a Pacific splashdown for the upper stage. The booster is expected to return separately with a Gulf of Mexico recovery plan. The launch window opens around 12:15 UTC, or 8:15 a.m. EDT.

The payload is central to SpaceX’s broader Starlink expansion strategy. Earlier Starship flights have carried Starlink hardware only on suborbital trajectories, meaning the satellites did not remain in orbit. Flight 14 is the first designed to place operational V3 satellites into service, with reports pointing to about 26 Tbps of added network capacity if deployment proceeds as planned.

Uzbekistan Airways has chosen China’s Jiatai to supply passenger seats for more than 10 Airbus A321neo aircraft, making the carrier the launch customer for the JT220B Premium business-class seat. The deal covers cabins for the airline’s next-generation A321neo fleet and includes an in-flight entertainment system for the premium seat.

The supplier was selected under an agreement reached on 15 June 2026, and the first seat shipset is scheduled for delivery in March 2028. The new A321neo aircraft are expected to join the Uzbekistan Airways fleet from 2028 onwards, supporting the carrier’s wider cabin-modernisation and fleet-expansion plans.

The contract also gives Jiatai its first aircraft passenger-seat project in Central Asia. For Uzbekistan Airways, the choice extends its sourcing into Chinese cabin suppliers at a time when airlines are broadening the range of vendors used for new narrow-body interiors.

Air Transport Services Group has agreed to sell Omni Air International to OAI Holdings, a private aviation company led by a management team with deep industry experience. The transaction covers the Tulsa, Oklahoma-based passenger ACMI and charter operator, which serves commercial and government customers worldwide and operates from Tulsa International Airport.

No financial terms were disclosed. Closing is subject to customary regulatory approval and other limited conditions, with completion expected in the fourth quarter of 2026 or early 2027.

ATSG expects the divestment to leave the group more focused on air cargo transportation, aircraft leasing and related maintenance and logistics services. OAI’s purchase is not subject to a financing contingency. Goldman Sachs is advising ATSG, while BDT & MSD Partners is advising OAI.

Founded in 1993, Omni provides passenger wet-lease flying, charter services, airline start-up support, route development and aircraft management.