RECARO Aircraft Seating has produced 80 customised Gaming Nxt chairs for Scandinavian Airlines to mark SAS’s 80th anniversary. The limited-edition chairs were designed exclusively for the airline and each one represents a year of SAS history, tying the product to employee-focused anniversary celebrations in Sweden and across the carrier’s Scandinavian network.

The chairs carry SAS blue upholstery, a stitched SAS logo on the headrest and a white SAS logo on the back. RECARO, which is based in Schwäbisch Hall, Germany, also highlighted the Gaming Nxt’s segmented backrest, premium materials and adjustable design, extending the company’s aircraft seating brand into a consumer-facing gaming product. SAS, founded in 1946, is marking eight decades of service with a series of anniversary activations this week.

Viasat has put its ViaSat-3 F2 satellite into service across the Americas, completing its next-generation three-satellite constellation and expanding network capacity for aircraft, ships and ground users in the region. The satellite is designed to deliver more than one terabit per second of throughput, with aviation among the main beneficiaries as the company targets busier routes and more consistent inflight connectivity.

The satellite uses beamforming technology to direct capacity toward high-demand flight paths, shipping lanes and other priority areas, a feature intended to improve performance where network pressure is highest. Viasat says the completion of the ViaSat-3 fleet has tripled bandwidth across its global network, strengthening coverage in its most commercially important markets.

Boeing also highlighted the service entry of ViaSat-3 F2 and F3, saying the full constellation now supports broadband services for airline customers across North America, South America and Asia-Pacific. For passengers on Viasat-equipped aircraft, the change is more likely to mean better stability and capacity during peak demand than a simple across-the-board speed increase.

Lockheed Martin has won an $871.2 million U.S. Navy contract modification to expand support equipment and sustainment capacity for the F-35 Lightning II. The award raises the ceiling of an existing site-activation and non-recurring sustainment effort rather than funding new aircraft, and it is aimed at strengthening the logistics base for dispersed operations across air and sea-based F-35 sites.

The work covers support for Air Force, Marine Corps and Navy operating locations, as well as cooperative programme partners and Foreign Military Sales customers. It is intended to provide additional equipment, initial sustainment supplies and other services needed to establish and activate new sites. Public reporting puts about 90% of the work in El Segundo, California, with the remainder in Fort Worth, Texas, and completion is expected in February 2031. No funds were obligated at award, with money to be issued through individual orders as required.

Singapore Airlines has been named the World’s Best Airline for 2026 at the Skytrax World Airline Awards in London, regaining the industry’s top ranking after Qatar Airways won in 2025. The carrier collected the overall title for the sixth time, alongside awards for World’s Best Economy Class, World’s Best Economy Class Onboard Catering and Best Airline in Asia.

Scoot, Singapore Airlines’ low-cost subsidiary, was also recognised as the World’s Best Long Haul Low-Cost Airline for the sixth consecutive year. Skytrax based the results on a survey of more than 24.8 million travellers covering over 300 airlines, with voting carried out from September 2025 to August 2026.

Qatar Airways finished second in the 2026 overall ranking, with Cathay Pacific in third place. The outcome restores Singapore Airlines to the top of the global quality table after last year’s change in leadership and extends Scoot’s run in the long-haul low-cost category.

A cleaning company car collided with a parked passenger aircraft at Munich Airport early on 19 September, striking the engine before hitting an unoccupied passenger staircase. The aircraft was standing in a side area of the airport with no one on board, and flight operations were not affected. The driver was seriously injured and taken by rescue helicopter to hospital.

Police opened an accident analysis after initial indications suggested the driver may have been medically impaired before the crash. The incident took place around 03:00 local time, within the airport’s overnight window when no scheduled flights operate between midnight and 05:00. No other people were endangered at any point, and the aircraft remained on the ground after the collision.

KLM diverted a Boeing 777-300ER back to Amsterdam after a power bank caught fire in the cabin on flight KL735 to Curaçao. The aircraft, registered PH-BVP, turned around over the Atlantic and landed safely at Schiphol with 322 passengers on board after the crew extinguished the fire.

The incident occurred several hours into the long-haul service on 17 September and was reported the following day. KLM began an investigation and rebooked passengers after the return to Amsterdam. No serious injuries were reported, although some accounts mentioned minor burns.

The case again draws attention to the risks posed by lithium-ion power banks on long-haul flights, particularly when they are charged or used in breach of airline safety rules. KLM allows passengers to carry power banks, but they must remain with the traveller and may not be used or charged onboard.

A De Havilland Canada DHC-6 Twin Otter registered F-ONCA has been ferried from Altenrhein in Switzerland to Tahiti in French Polynesia for Air Tetiaroa, following an overhaul in Switzerland. The aircraft was routed across nine legs and about 18,000 kilometres, with two experienced pilots handling the long overwater and remote sectors on a journey planned to take roughly 11 days and around 60 flight hours.

The ferry route included stops at Cardiff, Keflavik, Iqaluit, Saskatoon, Boise, Santa Maria, Hilo and Kiribati before the final leg to Tahiti. Air Tetiaroa is expanding its Twin Otter fleet with the aircraft, which will become the operator’s third example of the type. The Twin Otter is widely used in French Polynesia for short-haul island services, where rugged airfields, short runways and inter-island distances make the turboprop a practical choice.

Luxembourg Airport suspended flight operations on the evening of 18 September after visual sightings of unidentified drones over Findel, diverting 19 flights to other airports before service resumed at about 1:20 a.m. on 19 September. The shutdown affected passenger and cargo movements at one of the country’s main air links and triggered precautionary safety checks by airport authorities.

The government described the closure as a preventive measure under established safety protocols to protect passengers, crews, airport staff and aircraft. Two inspections found no immediate aviation-safety risk, allowing operations to restart overnight. Authorities have not yet reached a conclusion on the drones’ origin and are continuing their investigation.

Reuters reported that the disruption affected more than 1,800 passengers, while RTL said Luxair accounted for 17 of the diverted flights. Diversions were sent to airports including Cologne/Bonn, Brussels, Frankfurt-Hahn, Liège, Paris, Basel and Strasbourg, with KLM and Air Dolomiti among the carriers affected.

Germany has formally received its first F-35A Lightning II at Lockheed Martin’s Fort Worth production facility, with Defence Minister Boris Pistorius attending the handover ceremony on 18 September 2026. The aircraft is the first of 35 F-35As ordered under Berlin’s 2022 procurement plan, which is aimed at modernising the Luftwaffe and sustaining NATO nuclear-sharing tasks.

The first eight German aircraft will stay in the United States for pilot and maintainer training at Ebbing Air National Guard Base in Arkansas before entering German service. Deliveries to Büchel Air Base are expected to begin in late 2027, with full operational capability planned for 2029.

The handover shifts Germany from acquisition into integration of a fifth-generation fighter fleet. It also advances the planned replacement of the Tornado force and deepens interoperability with NATO allies as the programme moves through training, infrastructure and support preparation ahead of domestic deployment.

Joby Aviation has completed what it describes as the first fully autonomous flight across the United States, using a converted Cessna 208B Caravan fitted with its autonomy technology. The 3,199-mile eastbound trip ended near Dare County Regional Airport in North Carolina’s Outer Banks, close to the Wright brothers’ first powered-flight site in Kitty Hawk, after the aircraft flew from California without any control inputs from the onboard safety pilot.

The flight formed part of Joby’s month-long 2026 Electric Skies tour, which began in Concord, California, and included scheduled stops in Phoenix, Fort Worth and Shaw Air Force Base in South Carolina. Joby said the aircraft handled taxi, takeoff, cruise and landing autonomously, while operations were supervised remotely from its Autonomy Headquarters in California and from Shaw Air Force Base, as far as 2,323 miles away.

The company highlighted testing in busy airspace and around severe weather as part of the demonstration, presenting the system as relevant to freight, medical transport, disaster response and defence logistics. The aircraft was designated J208 during the tour.

The US Army has awarded Sikorsky a $234.46 million undefinitised contract modification for 16 UH-60M Black Hawk helicopters, with production set for Stratford, Connecticut. The action lifts the cumulative value of the procurement to $356.25 million and keeps the Army’s Black Hawk line moving while the service manages the transition into its next helicopter buy cycle.

The Army Contracting Command at Redstone Arsenal awarded the work on 17 September, using fiscal 2026 aircraft procurement funds. Delivery of the initial aircraft is planned for fiscal 2028, and completion is scheduled for 30 June 2028. Because the modification is undefinitised, final terms can still change while production begins.

The order extends activity on Sikorsky’s current multiyear Army agreement, signed in 2022 and due to run through late 2027. Company officials have indicated the new action could open the door to a larger follow-on run later, potentially reaching as many as 150 helicopters over the next three to four years. The Stratford assembly line supports a supplier base spanning 230 companies across 43 states.

Finland’s Air Force has received its first two F-35A Lightning II fighters at Lapland Air Wing in Rovaniemi, with the aircraft landing on Finnish soil on 18 September after a ferry flight from Fort Worth via Lajes in the Azores. The jets, JF-510 and JF-512, entered Finnish airspace at 17:21 local time and landed at 17:45 under escort from F/A-18 Hornets, beginning domestic operations of the type.

The aircraft are the first of 64 F-35As ordered to replace Finland’s F/A-18C/D Hornet fleet. The programme is central to the country’s move into fifth-generation airpower, with deliveries scheduled to continue until the end of 2030. Initial operational capability is due at the beginning of 2028, while full operational capability is targeted for the end of 2030, as Hornets and F-35s will operate in parallel through the transition. The new fighters will undergo post-ferry inspections before a formal arrival ceremony on 1 October.

Luxembourg Airport suspended flight operations on Friday evening after unauthorised drones were detected near and then over the aerodrome, disrupting services at Findel and diverting at least 19 flights. Operations resumed at about 01:20 local time on Saturday after inspections found no immediate safety risk, while more than 1,800 passengers were affected and delays continued as normal schedules were restored.

Luxair had 17 flights impacted by the disruption, which sent aircraft to Cologne/Bonn, Brussels, Frankfurt-Hahn, Liège, Paris, Basel and Strasbourg. The closure was treated as a precautionary safety measure affecting passengers, crews, airport staff and aircraft.

Luxembourg’s government has opened an investigation and has not reached any conclusion on the origin or operator of the drones. Prime Minister Luc Frieden linked the response to broader security coordination with international partners and NATO allies, underlining the sensitivity of the incident beyond routine airport disruption.

Air Baltic’s emergency sale of its remaining fuel hedges brought in only €5.7 million, deepening liquidity pressure at the Riga-based carrier as it worked to shore up cash around debt deadlines and a later restructuring. The move left the airline more exposed just as jet fuel prices climbed sharply, turning a hurried financing step into an added burden for the Baltic carrier.

The hedge unwind formed part of a wider effort to satisfy liquidity requirements linked to a high-yield bond due in 2029. By the time the positions were sold, Air Baltic was already under severe financial strain, with the carrier later filing for Chapter 11 protection in the United States amid debt pressure and a fuel-cost shock tied to the Iran conflict. Initial court approval followed two days later.

The episode underscores how weak hedging, rising fuel prices and leverage can collide quickly at a European airline with limited cash headroom. For Air Baltic, the sale delivered only a modest cash boost while removing protection at a moment when operating conditions were worsening.

Air India is examining whether to fold Air India Express into the main airline group as part of a cost-cutting drive that could simplify the carrier’s structure and reduce duplication. The proposed change would keep the Air India Express brand but merge it more closely with the parent company, easing separate management and operating arrangements within the India-based group.

The discussion remains at an early stage and would require approval from Air India’s supervisory board. It comes as the airline continues to tackle heavy losses and questions the need to run two carriers with separate operating permits. Combining the businesses could trim regulatory complexity and remove overlapping work in management, engineering and administration.

The plan would be a further step in the Tata Group’s overhaul of Air India after its acquisition of the airline in 2022. Air India and Air India Express currently operate as separate entities, and any consolidation would affect the group’s licensing, labour structure and network integration.

RTX is expanding the use of artificial intelligence and data analytics across aircraft maintenance, with its global repair operations using digital tools to speed inspections, identify potential issues earlier and make shop visits more predictable. The effort spans Pratt & Whitney and Collins Aerospace, including AI-assisted borescope inspection on the V2500 engine and predictive-maintenance software that processes full-flight and maintenance data.

Pratt & Whitney’s acquisition of Aiir Innovations in mid-2026 brought AI-powered borescope software into its maintenance workflow, with pilots completed on the GTF and F135 engines and wider deployment planned. RTX says the tool has cut overall inspection time by more than 30%, including report generation from hours to minutes. Collins Aerospace’s Ascentia platform combines flight data, maintenance records and other signals to flag repair needs before cockpit alerts appear or technicians detect faults physically.

RTX also cites about 90% predictive accuracy for early detection of cooling and ventilation unit issues, while predictive alerts have helped avoid more than 200 hours of possible disruption on long-haul flights. The company links these applications to a broader strategy of connecting data from design, testing, manufacturing and service life into a single maintenance backbone.

Libya’s Public Prosecution has placed two pilots in pretrial detention after a 2026-built Cessna Citation Latitude crashed on landing at Misrata International Airport and caught fire. Prosecutors said the captain and co-pilot flew the private jet while intoxicated, with investigators questioning the crew about a day after the accident and confronting them with evidence before ordering detention pending further inquiry.

The aircraft, registered TC-AKF and operated by Turkish firm BKNJET Aviation Co., veered off the runway during the landing accident on 14 September. All three people on board survived, but the crash triggered a criminal investigation into possible violations of aviation and general safety rules. Prosecutors also argued that the crew’s actions endangered the aircraft, airport users and surrounding airspace.

BKNJET has disputed the alcohol allegation and said it had not received any verified test result or document. The case has drawn attention because it combines an operational runway excursion with a rare public prosecutorial finding involving pilot impairment on an international business jet flight.

Joby Aviation has completed what it describes as the first fully autonomous flight across the United States, using a converted Cessna Caravan fitted with its autonomy technology. The 3,199-mile eastbound journey ended at Dare County Regional Airport in North Carolina’s Outer Banks, with zero control inputs from the onboard safety pilot during taxi, takeoff, cruise, route navigation and landing.

The aircraft, identified as the J208, departed Concord, California, and stopped in Phoenix, Fort Worth and at Shaw Air Force Base in South Carolina before reaching North Carolina. Remote supervision came from Joby’s autonomy headquarters in California and from Shaw Air Force Base, with oversight reported from as far as 2,323 miles away.

The flight formed part of Joby’s month-long Electric Skies tour and was used to demonstrate the company’s autonomy stack beyond its eVTOL air-taxi work. Joby positioned the system for potential use in freight, medical transport, disaster response and defence logistics, while the route also included autonomous handling of changing conditions, including weather-related rerouting.

KLM turned back flight KL735 from Amsterdam to Curaçao after a power bank caught fire in the business-class cabin over the Atlantic, forcing the Boeing 777-300ER to return to Schiphol after about 5.5 hours airborne. Cabin crew extinguished the blaze and the aircraft landed back in Amsterdam, while one passenger suffered minor injuries.

Dutch media and passengers on board identified the device as belonging to former KLM chief executive Camiel Eurlings, though the airline has not publicly confirmed that detail and has cited privacy. Reports indicate the power bank was being charged despite KLM rules banning the use or charging of power banks in flight. The incident has prompted an investigation and renewed attention on lithium-battery fire risks in the cabin.

Gama Aviation has begun operating the London FBO at RAF Northolt in West London, giving business aviation traffic a new access point to the capital. The facility is now listed on Gama Aviation’s own location page as its FBO operation at the Royal Air Force station, with handling contacts and service details available for civil aircraft using the base.

The move extends Gama Aviation’s fixed-base operator network beyond Jersey, Glasgow and Sharjah and gives the company a firmer foothold in the UK market. RAF Northolt offers a West London alternative to Heathrow for executive and other time-sensitive private aviation flights, particularly for travellers seeking shorter ground transfers into central London.

The Northolt page includes contact information for handling and price-list requests, underlining that the site is live and in active use. While the opening has been reported publicly, no wider commercial terms, traffic forecasts or launch timetable have been disclosed.

Alpha Wingman will bring its PitchAv startup pitch competition to NBAA-BACE 2026, giving business aviation entrepreneurs a Shark Tank-style platform at the convention in Las Vegas. The contest is scheduled for the Horizon Stage on Wednesday, 21 October, from 2 p.m. to 5 p.m., with emerging companies set to present ideas directly to the industry during the show.

PitchAv positions business aviation as a market for early-stage innovation and creates a public forum for startups seeking visibility with operators, suppliers and investors attending NBAA-BACE. The competition adds a dedicated startup element to the convention programme at a time when business aviation continues to look for technology, services and business models that can support efficiency and growth.

The clearest available coverage identifies Alpha Wingman as the organiser of the event and ties the competition specifically to NBAA-BACE, but does not confirm judging criteria, participating startups or any prize structure. Those details remain unverified in the available material.

Embraer has delivered the first Praetor 600E to Flexjet in Melbourne, Florida, making the fractional operator the launch customer for the updated super-midsize jet. The handover came as part of Flexjet’s long-standing fleet renewal programme with Embraer and moves the aircraft into service after its certification and introduction to the market this year.

The delivery is linked to Flexjet’s $7 billion agreement with Embraer for 182 aircraft and 30 options, signed in February 2025. The order covers Praetor- and Phenom-family aircraft and is set to expand Flexjet’s Embraer fleet over several years. Flexjet expects to receive 12 Praetor 600Es by the end of 2026, with Praetor 500E deliveries due later in the year.

Embraer and Flexjet highlighted cabin features on the inaugural aircraft, including the Smart Window and a 42-inch 4K OLED monitor. The Praetor 500E is due to follow as Flexjet becomes the launch customer for that model as well.

The US Federal Aviation Administration has approved a waiver allowing Boeing to keep selling the 777F freighter for three more years, clearing the way for up to 35 additional aircraft. The decision gives Boeing room to continue deliveries of the only large widebody freighter still in production, even after new US emissions and fuel-efficiency rules take effect on 1 January 2028.

The exemption covers first airworthiness certificates issued from 2028 through the end of 2030, limiting the relief to a narrow batch of aircraft. Boeing sought the waiver in December 2025, citing customer demand and the delay to the 777-8F replacement programme, now expected around 2029.

The extension helps avoid a potential production gap while the next-generation freighter remains in development. Boeing had 38 undelivered 777Fs in its order book at the end of August, so the waiver offers only limited near-term support but preserves supply for cargo operators during the transition. International acceptance of the exemption may still depend on other airworthiness authorities.

The National Business Aviation Association has named longtime communications chief Dan Hubbard to handle day-to-day leadership while president and chief executive Ed Bolen steps away for medical treatment. The interim handover comes as NBAA-BACE approaches in Las Vegas, giving the trade group a rapid continuity shift at one of the busiest points in the business aviation calendar.

Hubbard, NBAA’s senior vice president for communications, moves into the top operational role from within the organisation rather than through an external search. The board of directors made the appointment to preserve leadership continuity while Bolen focuses on treatment, with no details disclosed on his condition.

The transition places oversight of NBAA’s public messaging and event planning in experienced internal hands at a sensitive time for the association and its annual convention. NBAA-BACE remains a key gathering for manufacturers, operators, suppliers and other business aviation stakeholders, making stable leadership particularly important in the run-up to the event.

Aviation International News has published an AINsight commentary on preserving institutional knowledge before long-serving aviation professionals exit the workforce. The piece, titled “Build the Bridge before They Leave,” focuses on succession planning, handover discipline and the risk of losing hard-won judgment from experienced employees across airlines, manufacturers and business aviation operations.

The article opens with the line “Thirty years of judgment does not fit neatly into an exit interview,” framing the issue as a management and continuity challenge rather than a single operational event. Its central theme is that companies cannot wait until departure notices arrive to capture expertise, document procedures and prepare the next generation for critical roles.

No specific company, aircraft programme or location is identified in the accessible material, and the commentary is presented as industry analysis rather than a discrete commercial development. The piece is nevertheless timely for aviation employers facing retention pressure, ageing workforces and the need to protect operational memory in a sector where experience often sits with a small number of key personnel.

Canada’s federal government has introduced a permanent Productivity Mega Deduction that expands immediate 100% expensing to a much wider range of business assets, including aircraft, in a move aimed at lowering the after-tax cost of investment and lifting capital spending. The measure was unveiled at the first Canada Investment Summit in Toronto and lifts the share of eligible assets from roughly 15% to more than 65%.

The incentive covers fibre-optic cable, mining property, oil and gas pipelines, software, research and development, computer equipment, aircraft, vehicles, patents, rail track, bridges and roads. It builds on Budget 2025’s Productivity Super-Deduction, which was narrower and temporary, mainly covering machinery, equipment and technology.

Immediate expensing is being made permanent for most depreciable property acquired on or after 15 September 2026. The policy change is intended to encourage businesses to bring forward investment by allowing a full first-year write-off instead of spreading deductions over several years.

The government’s broader list does not imply a separate aircraft-only carveout, but aircraft are explicitly included among the eligible asset classes. Draft legislation and final implementation details will determine how the new rules apply in practice.

KLM flight KL735 returned to Amsterdam Schiphol after a power bank caught fire in the cabin during a long-haul service to Curaçao. The Boeing 777 turned back over the Atlantic after cabin crew extinguished the blaze, and one passenger suffered minor burns. The aircraft landed back at Schiphol after about 5.5 hours in the air, with passengers later rebooked on alternative services.

The incident adds to airline concerns over lithium batteries in the cabin, particularly on oceanic sectors where diversion options are limited. KLM already bars the use and charging of power banks during flight and places restrictions on how they are carried onboard. Dutch and international media also linked the device to former KLM chief Camiel Eurlings, although the airline did not confirm the identity of the passenger involved for privacy reasons.

The U.S. Army has expanded its air campaign against drug cartels along the U.S.-Mexico border, adding detection and neutralisation of hostile drones to surveillance and counter-narcotics missions. U.S. Northern Command has linked the effort to more than 300 drones neutralised since the start of the year, with over 100 intercepted in August alone, while aircraft such as the MQ-9 Reaper, MQ-1C Gray Eagle and RQ-4 Global Hawk support wide-area monitoring and precision response.

The operation now extends beyond maritime interdiction and into persistent border airspace control, where cartel-linked unmanned aircraft have become a growing threat. The Army’s Amp-Hel high-energy laser system entered border security duty on 24 August and had neutralised 11 drones by 4 September, underscoring the shift from trial use to operational deployment. The focus on counter-UAS activity places directed-energy weapons alongside traditional ISR platforms in a live security environment, with the border functioning as an active test bed for layered air defence against low-cost drones.

Gama Aviation has started fixed-base operator services at RAF Northolt in West London, adding a London gateway to its business aviation network. The site, an active Royal Air Force station about six miles north of Heathrow, provides private aviation passengers, crews and aircraft with direct access to central London and is positioned as the closest FBO to Wembley Stadium.

The Northolt operation expands Gama Aviation’s FBO footprint to four locations, alongside Glasgow, Jersey and Sharjah. The London base is designed for business aviation handling rather than a general passenger terminal, with services including VIP meet-and-greet, aircraft marshalling, chocking and safety coning. The company also plans upgrades at the site, including improved client lounges and dedicated crew facilities.

RAF Northolt’s location gives operators a discreet alternative for flights serving the capital’s commercial and leisure districts. Gama Aviation’s current network spans the UK and the UAE, with Northolt strengthening its presence in a market where access, privacy and turnaround efficiency are key commercial factors.

Safran has agreed a new share buyback-for-cancellation tranche with an investment services provider, setting a maximum value of €375 million for purchases of its own shares. The Paris-based aerospace group will run the tranche from 21 September to no later than 27 November as part of its wider €5 billion programme covering 2025 to 2028.

The transaction falls under shareholder authority granted on 21 May and lifts Safran’s executed buyback total to €2.275 billion. The latest tranche does not change the overall programme; it extends an existing capital-return plan that has already been running for several years and remains focused on cancelling repurchased shares rather than building treasury stock.

Safran’s buyback activity has been a significant feature of its financial policy in 2026, alongside ongoing operational performance in aerospace and defence. The company’s latest tranche follows earlier repurchases under the same programme and keeps the pace of capital returns aligned with the framework approved by shareholders.

Flughafen Stuttgart has moved its Smart Lane security checkpoint from Terminal 2 to Terminal 1, bringing the pre-bookable fast-track service alongside the airport’s newly installed CT scanners. The change, in effect from now, gives passengers a free time-slot reservation option for the security check and is aimed at streamlining passenger flows at the airport’s main departure area.

Travellers can book a 15-minute slot online between 72 hours and three hours before departure. The reservation requires a name, flight number and email address, with confirmation sent by email and the booking checked automatically at boarding pass control. The airport says the Smart Lane in Terminal 1 is clearly signposted and accessible to all gates from the departures level.

The relocation consolidates the airport’s faster screening process in one terminal, reducing the need for passengers to use a separate security point in Terminal 2. The service remains free of charge, and the airport expects the combination of CT scanners and time-slot screening to support shorter waiting times and more efficient handling during busy departure periods.

Aeroflot has signed a contract for 90 additional Yakovlev MS-21 aircraft in a deal concluded at Sheremetyevo Airport in Moscow, expanding its planned narrowbody fleet to 108 jets. Deliveries are scheduled from 2029 to 2032, with the package covering aircraft, flight simulators, pilot training and 22 years of after-sales maintenance.

The new agreement builds on an earlier order for 18 MS-21s, which are due in 2027 and 2028, and creates a long-term production pipeline for Russia’s civil aviation sector. The latest batch is set for staggered handovers of 14 aircraft in 2029, 18 in 2030, 24 in 2031 and 34 in 2032.

Representatives of Rostec, United Aircraft Corporation, Aviacapital-Service and United Engine Corporation attended the signing, alongside Russian officials including President Vladimir Putin, Industry and Trade Minister Anton Alikhanov and Transport Minister Andrey Nikitin. The contract was described as the largest in the history of Russian civil aviation.

Lockheed Martin and German officials unveiled Germany’s first F-35A Lightning II at the company’s Fort Worth, Texas, production site on 18 September, with the aircraft formally handed over at a ceremony attended by senior German and US defence figures. The jet is the first of 35 F-35As ordered by Berlin and will support pilot and maintenance training in the United States before deliveries begin in Germany later.

The initial aircraft are expected to remain in the US for training, with activity centred at Ebbing Air National Guard Base in Arkansas. First in-country deliveries to Germany are expected in late 2027, while deliveries are scheduled to continue through 2029. Berlin has selected the F-35 to replace part of its Tornado fleet and to strengthen NATO interoperability through fifth-generation combat-aircraft operations.

The rollout places Germany among the European operators of the stealth fighter and expands a fleet built around a multinational training and support model. German crews will use the aircraft in the US before the first jets enter service at home, allowing the Luftwaffe to build experience before the type arrives in country.

Lockheed Martin has presented Germany’s first F-35A Lightning II to the German government at its Fort Worth, Texas, production facility, opening the next stage of the country’s stealth fighter programme. German Defence Minister Boris Pistorius attended the ceremony, where the aircraft was identified as 35+01/MG-01. Germany has ordered 35 F-35As, with the first eight remaining in the United States for pilot and technician training before later aircraft are delivered for operational use.

The handover comes as Berlin prepares to replace part of its Tornado fleet and preserve its role in NATO nuclear sharing. Pistorius described the fighter as the beginning of a new era for the German Air Force and confirmed that the aircraft can carry U.S.-owned nuclear weapons. Reporting indicates the first German jets are due for delivery this year, with aircraft intended for Büchel Air Base from 2027 and completion of the full fleet by 2029. The first airframe had already flown earlier in the month before the ceremonial presentation in Texas.

ASELSAN demonstrated airborne electronic warfare and surveillance payloads on Bayraktar TB2 drones in Konya, Turkey, in front of defence delegations from 18 countries. The trial paired ANTIDOT 2ES 100 and ANTIDOT 2EA 200 pods on one TB2 with a FULMAR 200 synthetic aperture radar pod on a second aircraft, showing a single UAV setup for detection, jamming and reconnaissance.

In the first sequence, the electronic support pod located a radar and passed its position to the attack pod, which jammed the emission. ASELSAN said the arrangement allowed the TB2 to approach without being detected. In the second sequence, ANTIDOT identified another emitter and fed its coordinates to FULMAR 200, which generated a high-resolution SAR image. The company described this as the first time ANTIDOT had been tested against real radar systems while carried on a TB2, and the first public demonstration of ANTIDOT and FULMAR working together on the platform.

The demonstration highlights a configuration that combines electronic support, electronic attack, reconnaissance and surveillance on a drone already in operational service. ASELSAN did not identify the radar systems used as targets, and no official details on the exact test conditions were disclosed.

A Serve Air Cargo Boeing 737-300F suffered a right main landing-gear collapse during takeoff at Kindu airport in the Democratic Republic of Congo on 17 September, forcing the cargo aircraft to stop on the runway. The freighter, registered 9S-AAI, was operating a domestic flight to Kinshasa when it veered right on runway 36 and became immobilised, disrupting operations at the airport.

The crew kept the aircraft on the runway and brought it to a halt. The left main gear also sustained tyre damage, while Congo’s accident investigation authority, BPEA, dispatched a team to Kindu to examine the incident.

The aircraft is a 27-year-old Boeing 737-300 that previously flew as a passenger jet for carriers including easyJet and Hainan Airlines. The event adds to scrutiny of older 737 freighters that remain common in African cargo service, where they continue to carry domestic and regional freight on short sectors.

Japan Airlines has signed a purchase agreement with Climeworks Solutions for what the companies describe as the world’s first CORSIA-eligible CO2 removal credit deal. The portfolio includes credits from multiple durable removal methods as well as direct air capture, and the arrangement is intended to support JAL’s carbon strategy and compliance efforts under ICAO’s aviation offsetting scheme.

The Tokyo-based carrier has already used CORSIA-eligible credits in its compliance programme, including large-scale retirements in fiscal 2025. This new contract extends that approach into carbon dioxide removals, a segment that is drawing growing attention as airlines seek compliance-grade supply for the first phase of CORSIA.

Climeworks is based in the Zurich area of Switzerland. The companies did not disclose the volume, value or delivery schedule of the credits, and the “world first” claim reflects their own characterisation of the transaction.

Air Transat will suspend its Toronto Pearson–Manchester service from 4 January to 27 March 2027 as part of a winter capacity adjustment on the transatlantic route. The seasonal pause affects the Canada–UK link between Toronto and Manchester, but the airline has kept the route in its summer 2027 programme.

The change reflects an ongoing capacity review aimed at matching winter flying more closely to demand. Air Transat’s decision trims transatlantic capacity on a leisure-focused UK route rather than removing it entirely, with service set to resume at the end of March. The route has operated seasonally in recent years, with winter flying offered only in some periods.

Air Transat is also making other winter schedule changes elsewhere in its network, including a delayed start for Montreal–Tulum. The move fits a broader pattern of capacity discipline as the carrier adjusts its schedule ahead of the 2027 summer season.

Lufthansa Group has approved the exercise of options for 20 Boeing 737 MAX 10 aircraft, raising its firm Boeing 737 MAX order volume to 60 jets. The aircraft form part of the group’s short- and medium-haul fleet renewal programme, with deliveries due to begin in the early 2030s.

The new order is Lufthansa Group’s first commitment to the MAX 10 variant and comes from purchase rights attached to a 2023 deal for 40 Boeing 737 MAX 8 aircraft. That earlier agreement included 60 options for additional MAX-family jets, giving the group scope to expand its narrowbody fleet over time.

The aircraft are intended to replace older Airbus A320-family jets across the group, supporting long-term capacity planning and fleet modernisation. Lufthansa Group has said it expects to take delivery of more than 250 new aircraft by 2035 as part of that wider renewal programme. The order carries a list value of about $3.4 billion, although airline deals are typically completed at a discount.

DFS Aviation Services (DAS) and Saudi Air Navigation Services (SANS) have signed a memorandum of understanding in Langen, Germany, to develop air traffic control and navigation services together. The partnership centres on digital transformation, innovation and modern air traffic management solutions, with the aim of improving efficiency, expanding capacity and supporting long-term sustainability.

The cooperation covers ATM system architectures, cloud-based services, automation, airspace optimisation, air traffic flow management, remote tower concepts and advanced air mobility. Both companies plan to jointly develop and assess new operational and technological approaches, while accelerating the transfer of innovative technologies into day-to-day operations. The agreement links a German aviation services provider with Saudi Arabia’s air navigation organisation as both look to modernise their operations and build future-facing ATM capabilities.

Honeywell Aerospace has integrated the main subsystems of a hydrogen fuel-cell power source for aircraft as part of Project NEWBORN, a European low-emission aviation programme backed by the EU Clean Aviation Joint Undertaking. The work, led by the company’s engineering team in Brno with consortium partners, advances a test platform intended for ground trials of a hydrogen-electric propulsion system for a megawatt-class aircraft demonstrator.

The integrated platform was assembled at a research and engineering facility in the Czech Republic and brings together power generation, fluid distribution, electrical and control systems, safety equipment and heat-rejection hardware. The next phase calls for a ground demonstration in which the hydrogen power source and batteries will feed electricity to a megawatt-class electric motor driving an aircraft propeller.

After testing in the Czech Republic, the power source is due to move to Gorizia, Italy, for the following stage of the project. There it will be linked with battery systems from Pipistrel and a megawatt-class electric propulsion system developed jointly by the University of Nottingham, Honeywell Aerospace and Pipistrel. The programme was launched in 2023 as part of Europe’s wider effort to reduce aviation emissions, but no timetable has been disclosed for the Gorizia campaign or any subsequent flight-testing.

Embraer has delivered the first Praetor 600E to Flexjet, launching customer deliveries of the updated super-midsize business jet and opening a new phase in the two companies’ long-running partnership. The handover took place in the United States, with secondary reporting placing it in Melbourne, Florida.

Flexjet is the fleet launch customer for the Praetor 600E and expects to take 12 aircraft by the end of 2026. The delivery follows Embraer’s $7 billion agreement with the fractional operator for 182 aircraft plus 30 options, announced in February 2025.

The Praetor 600E received certification from Brazil’s ANAC, the FAA and EASA in April 2026. The aircraft delivered to Flexjet included Smart Window and a 42-inch 4K OLED monitor, configured at the customer’s request to support video conferencing and high-resolution streaming. Flexjet linked the delivery to a relationship with Embraer that began in 2003.

South Korea and France have completed joint air drills at Cheongju Air Base, bringing together Korean Air Force F-35A stealth fighters and KC-330 tankers with French Air and Space Force Rafale fighters and an A330 tanker. The three-day exercise, held from 15 to 17 September, was the first bilateral air training between the two countries in three years and focused on combined operations, aerial refuelling and tactical flying.

The French detachment formed part of Pégase 26, France’s long-range airpower deployment across multiple countries designed to test interoperability and deterrence. The drill included air-to-air refuelling from both sides and formation flying, with South Korean participation also reported from F-15K, KF-16 and FA-50 aircraft. The event came as France continues to use overseas deployments to deepen coordination with regional partners while demonstrating the reach of its air force.

The exercise underlined routine operational cooperation between Seoul and Paris at a time when both air forces are expanding their use of multi-domain training and long-range deployment profiles. Cheongju’s role as host base placed South Korea’s front-line fighters and tanker capability alongside a French expeditionary package built around the Rafale and A330 tanker, providing a practical interoperability check across platforms and crews.

BAE Systems has launched Shadow EW, a family of compact electronic warfare payloads for small airborne platforms, during the AFA Air, Space and Cyber conference in National Harbor, Maryland. The line is designed for drones and other light aircraft, with the first variant, Shadow EW 100, scheduled for production in 2027 at the company’s Cedar Rapids, Iowa facility.

The family also includes Shadow EW 120 and Shadow EW 500, with production planned to follow in 2028 and 2029. BAE has positioned the payloads around open architecture, software-defined upgrades and low size, weight and power demands, aiming to make electronic warfare more practical for affordable and potentially attritable aircraft operating in contested environments.

Shadow EW 100 is described as the smallest model in the family, covering frequencies from 70 MHz to 6 GHz and drawing less than 150 W, while the 500 variant extends to 18 GHz and adds direction-finding and geolocation functions. Software and design work will be handled in Nashua, New Hampshire. No contract, customer or pricing details were disclosed.

Air France has trialled small route and altitude changes on transatlantic long-haul flights to reduce the climate impact of persistent contrails, with February-to-April testing on about 4,300 flights showing no passenger delays during the trial. The airline identified 245 high-risk flights, rerouted 130 of them and estimated that the changes avoided about 22,000 tonnes of CO2-equivalent impact across operations between France and North America, Mexico and the Caribbean.

The experiment focused on weather conditions known to favour persistent contrail formation, using targeted adjustments rather than broad network changes. On rerouted flights, the contrail impact fell 57%, while the reduction across the full test set was 8%. Air France worked with French startups Estuaire and Klima on the project, which formed part of the EU-backed CICONIA programme.

The results point to a mitigation approach that could be scaled more widely, although any broader rollout would depend on air traffic control approval and closer operational coordination. Air France also said a small share of the flights accounted for a disproportionate share of the climate effect, with 3% of the studied services responsible for 25% of total contrail impact.

Embraer has delivered the first Praetor 600E to Flexjet, making the fractional operator the launch customer and first fleet user of the updated super-midsize business jet. The aircraft was handed over in the United States on 18 September, with one report identifying Melbourne, Florida, as the delivery location. Flexjet expects 12 Praetor 600Es by the end of 2026.

The delivery follows a 2025 fleet agreement valued at up to US$7 billion, covering 182 firm aircraft, 30 options and support services. Flexjet’s new aircraft will sit within a broader Embraer-heavy fleet that already includes other business-jet types from Bombardier and Gulfstream. The Praetor 600E is also reported to feature Embraer’s certified Smart Window technology, extending the model into commercial service with one of the world’s largest fractional ownership operators.

Hybrid Air Vehicles and WepTac A.G. are advancing a US-focused joint venture to develop Sentinel Hawk, a missionised derivative of the Airlander 10 hybrid airship for Pentagon intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance work. The concept positions the platform for long-endurance surveillance, communications and long-range targeting missions, with mission-system integration and sustainment support tailored to US military requirements.

The proposal reflects interest in persistent airborne ISR assets that can stay aloft for extended periods while supporting communications relays and targeting operations. Sentinel Hawk is intended to build on the Airlander 10 design, adapting it for defence use rather than introducing a clean-sheet aircraft.

No US military contract has been disclosed. The current effort centres on a planned development partnership and a possible future role in defence acquisition rather than a confirmed procurement award. The disclosure also arrives as militaries continue to seek lower-cost platforms for endurance surveillance over large areas.

Volaris is expanding its Guadalajara network with five nonstop services to the US, adding Atlanta, Washington Dulles, Boston, Raleigh-Durham and Nashville from the Mexican city. The low-cost carrier is also advancing the start of some previously planned routes, with tickets already on sale and frequencies set at several weekly flights rather than daily service.

The expansion strengthens Guadalajara’s role as a cross-border gateway and widens Volaris’ reach in one of its most important markets. Atlanta and Washington Dulles are among the routes brought forward, while Boston, Raleigh-Durham and Nashville are newly added links. Reported start dates vary slightly across sources, but the launches are clustered in October. The route mix is aimed at both leisure and business traffic, and the new service will give Volaris a wider presence across the US Southeast and Northeast.

Lockheed Martin has delivered the first F-35A to Germany in Fort Worth, Texas, as Defence Minister Boris Pistorius described the handover as the start of a new era for the Luftwaffe. The aircraft is the first of 35 F-35As Germany ordered in 2022 to replace its ageing Tornado fleet and preserve NATO nuclear-sharing capabilities.

The initial deliveries will support the type’s introduction into German service while the first eight jets remain in the United States for training. Later aircraft are due to follow through 2029. Germany plans to base the F-35A at Büchel in Rhineland-Palatinate, where infrastructure work is already under way to prepare for the fleet’s arrival.

The F-35A gives Germany access to a stealth fighter designed around sensor fusion, networking and reduced radar visibility, extending the Luftwaffe’s capabilities in both conventional operations and NATO deterrence roles. The programme also represents a shift away from the Tornado, which has long carried Germany’s nuclear-sharing mission.

Flydubai has expanded its ab initio pilot training programme by partnering with Egnatia and Skyborne as the Dubai-based carrier steps up preparation for a larger fleet. The move is linked to accelerating aircraft growth and is aimed at widening the pipeline of future pilots for the Boeing 737 operator.

The training push comes as airlines across the region continue to compete for cockpit talent, with pilot supply remaining tight in the wider market. Flydubai already runs an ab initio pathway for candidates with little or no flying experience, and the latest additions add capacity to that programme.

Operational details were not disclosed in the available material. No information was given on the number of trainees involved, the start date for the expanded intake or the terms of the arrangements with the two schools.