Lufthansa Group will launch free Starlink-powered in-flight Wi‑Fi under the new Lufthansa Group Wi‑Fi brand, with the first commercial flight set for 19 August on a Lufthansa Airbus A320neo. The service will be available free of charge to Miles & More customers and Travel ID users across all cabin classes, as the group begins a wider retrofit programme across its main airlines.

The rollout will expand from Lufthansa to SWISS, Austrian Airlines and Brussels Airlines, with the group targeting a full Starlink fit-out of its fleet by 2029. Lufthansa Group has framed the project as a major upgrade to onboard connectivity and positioned Starlink as the fastest internet service available to passengers at launch.

The network-wide programme is expected to cover around 850 aircraft, making it one of the largest connectivity retrofits in the group’s history. The first route and aircraft registration were not disclosed in the readable English version of the announcement.

NASA’s WB-57 research aircraft has arrived in Iceland for a high-altitude mission to observe the total solar eclipse from above the North Atlantic. The WB-57F Canberra, operating as NASA926, is based at Keflavík and is due to depart on 12 August for a flight along the eclipse path, with two NASA aviators onboard and imaging work planned at about 50,000 feet.

The jet flew from Ellington Field in Texas with a stop in Bangor, Maine before crossing to Iceland. NASA is using the long-serving aircraft because it can operate above most cloud cover and much of the atmospheric distortion that affects ground-based observations, improving visibility of the Sun’s corona and related phenomena during totality.

The mission is designed to capture high-speed imagery in visible and infrared wavelengths, supporting studies of prominences, nanoflares and coronal heating. Four cameras are fitted in the aircraft’s nose, and the flight is timed to chase the Moon’s shadow to extend usable observation time. NASA’s eclipse coverage also includes balloon experiments in Iceland and Spain as part of the wider campaign.

Lockheed Martin has formed a teaming agreement with Albany Engineered Composites to speed scalable production of U.S. hypersonic systems from Littleton, Colorado. The partnership is designed to support high-rate, mission-ready capability for the U.S. Department of War, with the companies targeting future full-rate production opportunities rather than a single programme award.

Lockheed Martin will contribute systems integration expertise, while Albany Engineered Composites, part of Albany International Corp., will provide agile composite manufacturing. The structure of the agreement defines roles and cost responsibilities, giving the partners flexibility to adapt as programme requirements and government directives evolve.

The companies are positioning the collaboration as an industrial-base move to help meet demand for reliable, cost-effective hypersonic systems at scale. Lockheed Martin vice president and general manager Johnathon Caldwell linked the effort to combining system integration and battle-ready engineering with Albany’s composite production capability, while Albany Engineered Composites president Chris Stone described hypersonics manufacturing as requiring advanced composite structures at unprecedented scale.

Pawan Hans has signed a non-binding memorandum of understanding with Norway-based Noemi Aerospace, also known as Elfly AS, to explore cooperation on electric seaplane technology and other sustainable aviation solutions in New Delhi. The agreement focuses on feasibility work, technical knowledge sharing, workshops and capacity building, but does not include a purchase commitment or financial investment.

The partnership is framed around green aviation, regional connectivity and short-haul mobility, including possible applications for island routes. It also aligns with India’s Make in India agenda and broader efforts to assess electric amphibious aircraft for domestic use.

The signing took place in the presence of Civil Aviation Minister Ram Mohan Naidu Kinjarapu and Civil Aviation Secretary Samir Kumar Sinha. Sunil Kumar Nagdawne represented Pawan Hans, while Eric François Lithun signed for Noemi Aerospace.

Noemi Aerospace is developing next-generation electric seaplane technology with support from the Norwegian government. The MoU creates a framework for cooperation, but the parties have not committed to procurement, exclusivity or a launch timeline.

Lockheed Martin has launched Strigo and a new Product Center of Missile Technology Solutions in Orlando, Florida, as it steps up development of modular missile and sensing systems. The architecture is built around a common baseline spanning RF sensors, missile datalinks and seeker technologies, with reconfiguration designed to support air defence, missile defence and air-to-surface missions.

The new centre is intended to accelerate the path from concept to delivery and operate as a source of ready-now and near-ready products. Lockheed Martin has already moved multiple concepts from initial design through testing at the facility, and technologies from the Strigo family have informed elements of the PrSM Increment 2 seeker package.

The company has invested $250 million in the centre to date, underscoring its push toward faster-cycle missile development as militaries seek more adaptable systems against evolving threats. No customer names, contract values for the launch or operational fielding timetable were disclosed.

A 7.4-magnitude earthquake struck western Colombia on Monday, prompting Aeronáutica Civil to suspend operations at several airports while inspectors checked for structural damage. Services at Pereira, Manizales, Quibdó, Armenia, Cartago and Buenaventura were halted, while Cali’s Alfonso Bonilla Aragón Airport also faced disruption before operations resumed in some reports.

The quake was centred near San José del Palmar in Chocó at a depth of about 107 km, and no tsunami threat was issued. Reuters reported that flights would remain suspended until inspections were completed, as authorities assessed the condition of airport infrastructure across the affected region.

The temporary closures affected links across Colombia’s coffee-growing corridor and Pacific-facing departments, where regional airports are important for domestic connectivity and emergency logistics. The earthquake also triggered broader emergency response activity on the ground, with reports of collapsed buildings, injuries and people trapped in cities including Cali and Quibdó.

KLM will introduce a new onboard catering concept called Grand Café KLM on European flights from October, giving Economy Class passengers a mix of complimentary basics, pre-order meals and paid menu items. The Dutch carrier is reshaping short-haul service around a hybrid model that keeps a free core offer while expanding choice for travellers who want a fuller meal or more flexibility.

The new concept follows testing across several destinations as KLM refined product selection and operational handling for Economy Class. Complimentary items will remain available, including coffee, tea, water, orange juice and a stroopwafel, while passengers will also be able to pre-order meals before departure or buy food during the flight.

Paid options will include items such as a poke bowl, Caesar salad, salmon egg wrap and yoghurt with fruit and seeds. Bas Gerressen, executive vice-president of inflight services, linked the change to a wider trend among European full-service airlines and to demand for more personal choice onboard.

airBaltic is cutting winter-season capacity across its Baltic network, suspending several routes and reducing frequencies on selected services as it reshapes flying for softer demand. The changes include the suspension of Vilnius-Berlin, Vilnius-Dubai and Palanga-Tenerife, alongside a lower frequency on Vilnius-Tallinn. Tallinn-London Gatwick will also be dropped for winter, while some Riga services face further reductions.

The carrier is keeping the adjustments limited to a small part of the schedule and will continue operating flights as published until the winter timetable change. Existing bookings remain valid. Edvards Dalderis, the airline’s spokesman, linked the revisions to a routine network review based on demand, seasonality, commercial factors and wider market conditions.

The cuts appear selective rather than a broad retreat from the region. One route pairing, Vilnius-Geneva, is expected to be added in the winter season, underlining that airBaltic is pruning weaker services while preserving and adjusting others. Leisure links such as Tenerife and Dubai, together with business-oriented city routes from the Baltic capitals, are among the services most affected.

S7 Airlines suffered a second Boeing 737 runway overrun in six weeks after a cargo aircraft arriving at Norilsk Airport in Russia’s Krasnoyarsk region went beyond the runway end on landing on 8 August. The aircraft had flown from Moscow Domodedovo and was carrying two crew members and cargo. No injuries were reported, but the jet sustained damage.

Russia’s West Siberian Transport Prosecutor’s Office and Novosibirsk Transport Prosecutor’s Office opened checks into possible breaches of aviation safety rules. The cause of the Norilsk excursion has not been established publicly, and the inquiry remains at an early stage.

The latest incident follows a similar event involving another S7 Boeing 737 at Mirny Airport on 30 June. That aircraft, a 737-800 operating from Novosibirsk to Mirny, also overran the runway after touchdown, with no injuries reported. The back-to-back runway excursions place fresh scrutiny on the carrier’s landing operations and ground safety procedures.

Air Charter Service generated $845 million in revenue in the first half of 2026, up 38% from a year earlier. The UK-based charter broker’s growth was broad-based across private jets, group charter and cargo, with cargo missions delivering the strongest year-on-year increase.

The result points to sustained demand in charter brokerage during the opening half of the year, particularly in freight-related flying. ACS also attributed the rise to regional expansion, a shift towards higher-value contracts and activity linked to major global events. The company’s performance adds to signs of resilience in the wider charter market, where demand held firm across both passenger and cargo segments.

Cargo remained the standout contributor, outpacing the other divisions and underlining the strength of time-sensitive freight demand. ACS operates globally and serves business aviation and cargo customers through its charter brokerage network.

The FAA’s runway incursion mitigation programme shows a sharp decline in incidents at airfield locations where taxiway geometry has been corrected. In its Fiscal Year 2025 annual summary, the agency found that 98 locations that contributed to the programme’s inventory recorded an average 77% fewer incursions per year after mitigation activity.

The report, posted on 5 August, tracks the programme’s move from broad airport-area reviews to individual intersections and other specific geometry points. FAA research launched the initiative in fiscal 2015 after identifying a link between nonstandard taxiway geometry and a higher rate of runway incursions.

For fiscal 2025, the agency georeferenced 1,268 runway incursions, added 100 problematic taxiway geometry locations, prioritised 11 sites for mitigation and recorded seven as mitigated. Since the programme began, it has georeferenced 19,207 runway incursions and 7,526 nonstandard geometry locations, with 248 airfield locations prioritised and 112 mitigated.

CFS Aero is relocating its primary base of operations from Lanseria International Airport to Fireblade Aviation’s facilities at OR Tambo International Airport in Johannesburg. The business aviation operator will make the airport its new headquarters and principal operational hub, while keeping a presence at Lanseria so customers can continue to access both airports.

The move covers the transfer of CFS Aero’s corporate offices and managed aircraft fleet to OR Tambo. The company links the decision to its next phase of growth, citing expanded infrastructure, stronger connectivity and better access to aviation support services, customs and immigration, lounges and additional hangar capacity.

CFS Aero will continue to operate at Lanseria International Airport, where it will retain FBO and other services. That dual-airport footprint preserves an established service option in Johannesburg while shifting the main operating base to South Africa’s largest airport.

Embraer delivered record second-quarter revenue of US$2.235 billion in the April-to-June period, up 23% from a year earlier, as strong demand across its commercial, executive and defence businesses lifted deliveries to 65 aircraft. The Brazilian manufacturer also reported its highest second-quarter backlog on record, at US$34.5 billion, and raised its full-year 2026 profitability and cash-flow outlook.

Commercial aviation remained the largest contributor to the quarterly performance, while executive jet sales also advanced sharply. Deliveries included 20 commercial aircraft and 45 executive jets, the company’s strongest second-quarter delivery total in 16 years. Adjusted EBIT reached US$296.9 million, with a margin of 13.3%, and adjusted free cash flow excluding Eve came in at US$401 million.

Chief executive Francisco Gomes Neto pointed to the breadth of the quarter’s performance as Embraer reset its full-year targets. The company now expects adjusted EBIT margin to come in between 10.0% and 10.6%, up from the previous range, and adjusted free cash flow excluding Eve to be US$400 million or higher. Net profit and EBITDA also rose year on year, while the backlog reflected continued demand visibility into future production.

Velocity FBO Network has acquired SkyPlace FBO at San Antonio International Airport in Texas, expanding its platform to a sixth fixed-base operator location. The deal gives the Tallvine Partners-backed company a foothold in one of Texas’s major general aviation markets and adds another site to its growing North American network.

SkyPlace provides 24/7 fuel service, ground support and hangar and office space for aircraft ranging from single-engine turbine types to large-cabin jets. Velocity already operates at Willow Run, Kissimmee Gateway, St. Simons Island, Lake Havasu City and Baton Rouge, with San Antonio now joining that footprint.

Tallvine Partner Mark Clark linked the transaction to Velocity’s wider acquisition strategy, which focuses on building a geographically diversified FBO platform across attractive aviation markets. The company described San Antonio as a strategic fit within that plan, though it did not disclose financial terms or closing mechanics.

SWISS diverted flight LX52 from Zurich to Boston to Dublin after smoke developed on board and was traced to a power bank. The aircraft landed safely with 206 passengers and crew on board, and passengers were accommodated overnight in a hotel while the airline arranged onward travel.

The incident occurred on Sunday, and SWISS later confirmed that the aircraft would be inspected before returning to service. The flight had departed Zurich Airport on its transatlantic route when the crew requested a priority landing in Dublin after smoke was detected in the cabin.

The case comes after a second battery-related disruption for the carrier in a short period, adding to industry concern over the risks posed by portable lithium batteries in the cabin. SWISS has already prohibited the use of power banks onboard since the start of the year, although passengers may still carry up to two devices and are not permitted to charge them during the flight.

Germany is preparing a reform of its intelligence law that would let the BND and domestic security service take active countermeasures in defined threat scenarios, including disruption of hostile drones and related industrial facilities. The draft, developed by the Interior Ministry, is expected to go before the cabinet in the coming week and would expand powers beyond observation into direct intervention against threats affecting German airports and other critical sites.

The planned overhaul would shift Germany further away from its traditional separation between intelligence gathering and policing. Reported options include manipulation, deception, sabotage and cyber operations, as well as measures aimed at disabling adversary IT systems, diverting data flows or interfering with weapon systems and infrastructure.

Marc Henrichmann, who chairs the parliamentary control panel overseeing the services, has argued that the agencies should ideally be able to disable a Russian attack drone or even the factory producing it before it poses a threat to Germany. The proposal remains at the draft stage and still requires cabinet review before it can advance to parliament.

AIN has published a guide aimed at aircraft owners preparing to sell their aircraft, focusing on the practical steps and expectations that can shape a successful transaction. The piece centres on pre-sale readiness in business aviation, offering timely market guidance for owners considering bringing an aircraft to market.

The article frames sales preparation as a commercial exercise as much as an operational one, with the guide pointing owners toward the issues they should anticipate before listing an aircraft. That makes the advice relevant not only to owners, but also to brokers, aircraft management companies and other service providers involved in positioning a jet for sale.

The topic sits within the broader business aviation market, where presentation, documentation and readiness can influence buyer interest and transaction timing. By setting out what owners need to prepare for, the guide addresses a common stage in the ownership cycle for operators looking to exit an asset in an orderly way.

Robinson Unmanned has been selected for Gauntlet II of the U.S. Department of War’s Drone Dominance Program while continuing Phase 1 deliveries of its SPIRIT-FPV systems. The Wilmington, Massachusetts-based company is advancing its coaxial unmanned aircraft through a programme designed to identify vendors that can deliver low-cost, mission-ready drones at scale and through secure U.S. supply chains.

The next competition stage is due in August in Fort Carson, Colorado, after Robinson Unmanned performed strongly in the Phase 2 qualifier at Camp Grayling, Michigan. That event brought together 49 companies and about 79 drone designs across long-range strike and close-quarters tactical assault missions, with 19 companies moving on.

The DDP is structured as a rapid acquisition effort rather than a prototype fly-off alone, with manufacturing readiness carrying as much weight as flight performance. Robinson Unmanned is competing with SPIRIT-FPV, a rugged, modular all-weather platform built on the Blue UAS Cleared SPIRIT system, as the Pentagon broadens its focus from technical demonstration to industrial capacity.

Lockheed Martin Skunk Works and the U.S. Air Force Test Pilot School have completed a series of AI-controlled air intercepts using the X-62 VISTA test aircraft at Edwards Air Force Base, California. In eight flights conducted in April, the system carried out 27 autonomous intercepts against a T-38 Talon target aircraft using live infrared sensor data.

The demonstration used the Legion Pod infrared search-and-track sensor to feed real-world target information to the autonomy system, which then manoeuvred the aircraft into intercept positions without direct human piloting. The campaign was designed to show that the X-62’s autonomy architecture can work from operational sensor inputs rather than simulated data, a step toward sensor-to-action autonomy in combat aircraft.

The result is relevant to future autonomous aircraft and collaborative combat aircraft programmes, where live mission-system testing is essential to validate behaviour in realistic operating conditions. Earlier work in this area relied more heavily on simulated sensor inputs, making the April flights a more demanding test of autonomy performance in flight.

Lufthansa and pilot union Vereinigung Cockpit have agreed to enter mediation in their ongoing labour dispute, covering talks at Lufthansa, Lufthansa Cargo, Lufthansa CityLine and Eurowings. The move is set to pause the threat of further pilot strikes for now, as the parties seek a structured settlement over unresolved pay and pension issues.

Lufthansa confirmed that a broad understanding has been reached, but no details were disclosed because the process is subject to confidentiality. The mediation will run alongside a formal conciliation procedure, giving both sides an organised route back into negotiations after several rounds of industrial tension.

The agreement is a de-escalation rather than a fresh strike warning, and the immediate operational significance lies in improved short-term planning certainty for the Lufthansa Group’s network. Key terms of the settlement remain unpublished, including any exit options or specific arbitration points.

Korean Air has priced a $300 million three-year Reg S Eurobond backed by a guarantee from KB Kookmin Bank, tightening pricing to 57 basis points over the equivalent U.S. Treasury yield. The Seoul-based carrier’s latest international borrowing comes as it continues to tap offshore debt markets through a commercial-bank guarantee rather than the policy-bank structures used in earlier foreign-currency deals.

The spread was 33 basis points inside initial guidance, indicating firm investor demand for the issue. The structure differs from Korean Air’s previous dollar bonds, which carried guarantees from Korea Development Bank, and from a recent ¥20 billion Samurai bond supported by the Export-Import Bank of Korea. The new transaction adds another foreign-currency funding channel for the airline while keeping the tenor at three years and preserving access to international investors through a Reg S format.

National Airlines has completed a nonstop Boeing 777 freighter service from Glasgow Prestwick to Melbourne that it describes as the world’s longest commercial 777F cargo flight. The mission covered nearly 9,850 miles and was flown in response to an urgent aircraft-on-ground repair requirement for Jetstar, with Golden Aviation acting as broker.

The freighter departed Prestwick on 4 August and landed in Melbourne on 5 August after about 19 hours and 23 minutes in the air. The operation was arranged at short notice and was completed within 30 hours of the customer’s initial enquiry, underscoring the role of long-range cargo aircraft in time-critical maintenance support.

The flight adds a notable benchmark for the Boeing 777F, which is increasingly used on ultra-long-haul sectors where speed and range are critical. National operated the mission with its new Boeing 777 freighter, extending the aircraft’s commercial profile on one of the longest nonstop cargo routes reported to date. The exact cargo was not disclosed in full, but the shipment was tied to a replacement-part move needed to minimise aircraft downtime.

Baykar is preparing to enter commercial air freight with a planned cargo airline based in Istanbul, using an Airbus A321P2F as the first aircraft. Recruitment activity on the Turkish drone maker’s careers site points to an establishment phase rather than an operating carrier, with roles spanning flight crew, ground operations, safety, airworthiness and cargo handling.

The project would move Baykar beyond unmanned systems into manned airline operations and add a new participant to Türkiye’s cargo market. The initial fleet is reported to centre on one A321P2F freighter, with room for later expansion, and the type is said to offer about 28 tonnes of payload. The planned network is expected to cover both domestic and international freight.

No public launch announcement has emerged, and the available evidence remains indirect, drawn mainly from job listings and industry reporting. That places the venture at an early certification and set-up stage, although the breadth of hiring suggests a structured effort to build the operational and regulatory teams needed for a new cargo airline.

Emirates and Arsenal have unveiled The Aircrafted Arsenal Crest, a 2.4-metre illuminated sculpture made from upcycled parts sourced from Emirates Airbus A380 and Boeing 777 aircraft. Created by Emirates Engineering in Dubai and flown to London, the permanent installation now sits in Emirates’ hospitality space at Emirates Stadium, marking 20 years of the partnership between the airline and the club and its extension through 2033.

The crest combines aviation components with Arsenal branding, using an A380 wheel hub and titanium bleed-air duct in the cannon, Boeing 777 fuselage skin in the shield and aircraft windows shaped into the lettering with integrated lighting. Emirates completed the project in-house with a team of 15 engineers, designers, mechanics, technicians and painters over 34 days, then painted it in Arsenal’s colours before installation.

The display links Emirates’ aircraft upcycling programme with a high-profile sponsorship asset at one of football’s best-known stadiums. The carrier has not disclosed any commercial value for the work, and the installation is described as a permanent feature rather than a temporary exhibit.

Vertical Aerospace has secured financing commitments of about $100 million to support continued development of its Valo electric vertical take-off and landing aircraft. The package is designed to fund certification and commercialisation work, including progress on the Critical Design Review, expansion of the Vertical Energy Centre, future UK production plans and retrofit work on the third prototype for hybrid-electric flight testing in the first half of 2027.

The financing includes $40 million from Mudrick Capital Management, $35 million in equity investment from existing and new investors, and $25 million from Vertical’s preferred equity facility with Yorkville Advisors Global. The equity tranche was priced on the day of the announcement and was due to close around 11 August, while the preferred equity issuance was set to settle the same day.

The new capital gives Vertical additional liquidity as eVTOL developers continue to face heavy funding demands while moving through certification and preparing industrial capacity. The expansion of the Vertical Energy Centre is expected to triple battery production capacity, and the company is also advancing plans for future manufacturing facilities in the UK.

Raytheon, an RTX business, has won a $745.387 million noncompetitive contract action to manufacture and assemble Standard Missile-3 Block IIA all-up rounds for the U.S. government and Japan’s Ministry of Defense. The undefinitized award covers work for the missile defence programme through a Foreign Military Sales case, with production split between Tucson, Arizona, and Huntsville, Alabama.

The Missile Defense Agency is the contracting authority for the deal, which runs to 28 February 2031. Immediate funding includes $275.6 million from FY2026 procurement accounts and $277.7 million from Japan FMS funds, supporting the start of the production run while final terms are completed.

SM-3 Block IIA is a jointly developed U.S.-Japan exo-atmospheric interceptor used in Aegis-based ballistic missile defence. The notice did not specify missile quantity, and the undefinitized structure leaves room for later adjustment to the final value and scope. The award continues Raytheon’s role in the interceptor supply chain and sustains production for a system central to U.S.-Japan defence cooperation.

EnduroSat has signed a memorandum of understanding with the Bulgarian government to redevelop the former Dobroslavtsi military airbase near Sofia into a space and defence development centre. The 290-hectare site, about 15 km from the capital, is planned to house satellite manufacturing, research and development, testing, education and logistics in one complex.

The first phase is scheduled to take three years and covers runway restoration and extension, the delivery of initial industrial buildings and the creation of a large green area across the site. EnduroSat has described the project as potentially Europe’s largest space research and development centre, as its newer satellites require more space for assembly, integration, testing and qualification.

The redevelopment also includes an education campus linked to a master’s programme in Space Engineering & Technology developed with Sofia University, the Air Force Academy and the Naval Academy. Bulgarian Prime Minister Rumen Radev joined EnduroSat founder and chief executive Raycho Raychev at the site for the announcement. The project will be carried out through Starbase Europe EOOD, the vehicle behind the priority investment scheme owned by Raychev.

Delta Air Lines will launch a daily nonstop service between Seattle-Tacoma International Airport and Tokyo Narita from late March 2027, using an Airbus A330-900neo. The route is scheduled to begin with Seattle departing on 27 March 2027 and Narita departing on 28 March 2027, extending Delta’s transpacific network from Seattle and restoring its link to Narita after a gap of several years.

The new service will complement Delta’s existing Seattle–Tokyo Haneda operation, giving the carrier service to both major Tokyo airports from its Pacific Northwest hub. Delta describes the addition as its most comprehensive Seattle–Tokyo offering to date and positions Seattle as a key gateway for its Asia network.

The route will operate as DL115 from Seattle at 13:35, arriving in Narita at 16:20 the following day, with the return DL114 leaving Narita at 18:30 and reaching Seattle at 12:00. Delta’s Japanese-language material links the launch to broader Pacific growth and highlights Seattle’s connections to more than 50 North American cities. The airline has not disclosed fares, and booking availability details remain limited.

Sun PhuQuoc Airways has set out a delivery timetable for eight Airbus A330 widebodies, including ex-American Airlines aircraft, with the first two due in Vietnam in September and expected to enter service immediately. A further A330 is scheduled for October, another for December, and the remaining four are lined up for delivery in the first four months of 2027.

The widebodies will support the carrier’s medium- and long-haul network plans from Phu Quoc as it pursues international growth. The airline has also linked the A330 programme to a broader fleet expansion target of 32 aircraft in 2026.

The schedule indicates that four of the eight A330s should be in the fleet by the end of this year, accelerating the startup carrier’s long-haul capability before the remainder arrives early next year. No registration details or final route assignments have been disclosed for the aircraft.

Embraer reported a 38.4% rise in adjusted net income to US$218.6 million in the second quarter of 2026, while revenue climbed 23% year on year to a record US$2.2 billion. The Brazilian aircraft manufacturer delivered 65 aircraft in the period, its strongest second-quarter performance in 16 years, and lifted full-year guidance after a quarter marked by stronger operations, improved cash inflows and an extraordinary tax credit.

The quarterly delivery total included 45 executive jets and 20 commercial aircraft, with no defence deliveries. Firm order backlog reached US$34.5 billion, the highest level in the company’s history and the seventh consecutive record. Embraer’s executive aviation business remained a major contributor to the period’s performance, while commercial aviation continued to support the backlog alongside defence orders already secured.

The improved profitability led Embraer to raise its 2026 outlook. The company now expects an adjusted EBIT margin of 10.0% to 10.6%, up from a prior range of 8.7% to 9.3%, and adjusted free cash flow excluding Eve of US$400 million or more, compared with a previous target of US$200 million or more. Net profit in local currency also rose sharply in the period, underscoring the scale of the improvement across the business.

Rheinmetall will act as system integrator for Boeing’s MQ-28 Ghost Bat in Germany, giving the country an initial industrial base for collaborative combat aircraft development. The partners are building a German ecosystem around the unmanned platform with Rohde & Schwarz, Diehl Defence and HENSOLDT, while software development, mission integration and intellectual property remain within that domestic network.

The MQ-28 is being positioned as a mature platform that can support sovereign capability work without waiting for a clean-sheet design. Rheinmetall’s role centres on establishing independent integration capacity in Germany, with the arrangement intended to support future work on sensors, weapons and mission systems.

The move expands Boeing’s German industrial team after additions in June 2026, when Diehl Defence and Rohde & Schwarz joined the effort. The latest step is an industry and technology development initiative rather than a procurement decision, contract award or delivery commitment from the German government.

Emirates carried out the first-ever Airbus A380 visit to Jakarta on 8 August, landing at Soekarno-Hatta International Airport for a one-off special operation tied to AC Milan’s pre-season tour in Indonesia. The superjumbo then departed shortly after midnight on 9 August with the Italian club on board after its friendly against Chelsea FC.

The special flight was a rare use of the A380 on the Jakarta route, where Emirates normally operates 14 weekly services with other aircraft types. The carrier had positioned the move as a standalone operation rather than the start of a regular A380 schedule for the Indonesian capital.

The arrival gave Soekarno-Hatta its first handling of Emirates’ largest passenger aircraft, a notable test of the airport’s long-haul and ground-handling capability. Reports from the airport operator indicated the return leg, EK359, was fuelled in Jakarta before the aircraft headed back to Dubai, underscoring the logistical scale of the charter-style movement.

Fraport’s first-half net profit fell 47.7% to €51.6 million even as revenue rose in the six months to the end of June, after higher depreciation and interest costs linked to new terminal infrastructure weighed on earnings. The German airport operator also lifted EBITDA, but the market focused on weaker free cash flow and the impact of a one-off gain in the comparison period.

Revenue increased to about €2.07 billion, or roughly €2.13 billion on an adjusted basis, while EBITDA rose to about €582 million. The profit decline was driven mainly by higher finance costs after construction spending on Frankfurt Terminal 3 and terminal expansion work in Lima moved into operation, reducing the amount of interest that could be capitalised.

International airports helped cushion softer performance in Frankfurt, where traffic was affected by strikes and Middle East tensions. Stronger results in Greece, Lima, Fortaleza and Porto Alegre supported the group, and Reuters reported that second-quarter earnings came in above expectations despite the weaker cash-flow trend.

Germany’s Bundespolizei will expand its drone-defence unit to 300 personnel and double its network to eight locations after a drone carrying explosives was found at Leipzig/Halle Airport. Federal Interior Minister Alexander Dobrindt will issue the directive to strengthen protection for airports and other sensitive infrastructure, with the force expected to gain faster nationwide response capability.

The unit is still being built out after its creation in December 2025, when initial plans called for about 130 staff across several sites. The wider German security response to drones has included a joint counter-drone centre and broader legal powers for defensive measures, reflecting growing concern over aerial threats near aviation assets. The expansion is intended to place personnel closer to likely hotspots so interventions can be mounted more quickly and with greater flexibility on site.

Lufthansa Group will launch its first Starlink-powered onboard Wi-Fi service on 19 August, when a Lufthansa Airbus A320neo enters passenger service with the new connectivity. The rollout begins the group’s commercial deployment of the system, branded Lufthansa Group Wi-Fi, with free access for Miles & More members and Travel ID users across all travel classes.

The service uses low-Earth-orbit satellites and is designed to support video streaming, cloud-based work and other high-bandwidth applications in flight. Lufthansa Group plans to equip about 850 aircraft across its airlines, making it the largest airline group in Europe to adopt the technology.

The initial Lufthansa installation will be followed in phases by SWISS, Austrian Airlines, Brussels Airlines, ITA Airways, Edelweiss, Discover Airlines, Air Dolomiti, Lufthansa City Airlines and Eurowings. The full fleet rollout is scheduled to continue through 2029. The inaugural route for the first aircraft has not been disclosed.

The UK Ministry of Defence has opened market engagement for a new Jet Training System to replace the Royal Air Force’s Hawk T2 advanced trainer and the Hawk T1 flown by the Red Arrows. The request for information, published on 7 August, begins early-stage procurement work for a programme that remains at the information-gathering stage rather than a formal tender.

The requirement stems from the Defence Investment Plan unveiled in June, which set aside £360 million for full recapitalisation of the jet training system and linked the effort to future fifth- and sixth-generation air systems. The new aircraft is expected to support training for pilots moving on to Typhoon, F-35 and GCAP-era platforms, while also providing a replacement for the Red Arrows before the Hawk T1 leaves service around 2030.

The ministry is seeking a solution with significant UK industrial participation, leaving the aircraft type, prime contractor and procurement structure open. Potential bidders mentioned in industry reporting include BAE Systems, Boeing, Saab, Leonardo, Korea Aerospace Industries and Turkish Aerospace.

Western Sydney International Airport will gain new Vietjet services to Ho Chi Minh City from January 2027, with the low-cost carrier planning two weekly flights initially before increasing to three weekly in March 2027. Vietjet Thailand is also preparing four weekly services between Western Sydney and Bangkok from November 2027, subject to regulatory approvals, as the airport lines up early international capacity ahead of its opening phase.

The Ho Chi Minh City route will be operated by A330 aircraft with capacity for up to 377 passengers and is already on sale. The service is supported by the New South Wales government’s Western Sydney International Take-Off Fund, which is designed to attract new airlines and routes to the airport at Badgerys Creek.

The announcements place Vietjet among the first international operators linked to the new Sydney airport. The Bangkok service remains planned rather than final, with approval still required before launch.

A new express bus route will connect St Helens town centre with Liverpool John Lennon Airport from 6 September under the X3 number. The direct service is being introduced as part of the return of public control over bus operations in St Helens, and is designed to give faster access to the airport for local residents and passengers across the wider Liverpool City Region.

The route is expected to provide direct public transport access to the airport in under an hour for more than 25,000 residents, with more than 100,000 people able to reach it in under 80 minutes via onward rail and bus links. The service will use newly built, publicly owned, UK-made low-emission buses in the region’s yellow and grey Metro livery.

Liverpool John Lennon Airport chief executive John Irving welcomed the improved connectivity, saying the airport has more flights to more destinations than at any point in its history. The X3 is part of wider work to improve access to the airport, alongside funding for a new rapid transit system aimed at cutting journey times between Liverpool city centre, the airport and the football stadiums.

Melbourne Airport has released a draft master plan setting out its growth strategy through 2047, with the airport targeting capacity for 75 million annual passengers, almost double the nearly 37 million handled in the last financial year. The 20-year plan covers terminal expansion, road and bus access, rail integration and airfield development, including formal recognition of the Eastern Extension Project linked to a third runway.

The draft allocates A$4.5 billion for privately funded expansion of the international terminal, alongside upgrades to domestic terminals and new road infrastructure. It also includes improved local bus services and provision for the planned airport rail link via Sunshine, part of wider transport planning around the airport.

Melbourne Airport has opened the draft for public feedback during the consultation period. Its materials describe the document as a preliminary plan for how the airport could evolve over the next two decades, spanning future terminals, aircraft operations, sustainability and connectivity.

The UK Civil Aviation Authority has engaged with Apollo Global Management over its proposed recommended cash acquisition of easyJet, a deal valuing the airline at about £5.7 billion. The transaction, announced on 6 August, would give Apollo a controlling economic interest in easyJet while keeping ownership structures within the limits needed for the carrier’s operating rights.

easyJet’s share price has been set at £7.15 under the offer, which followed Castlelake’s withdrawal from the process. The structure is designed so Apollo funds hold no more than 49.9%, with an EU trust and qualifying rollover shareholders helping preserve the ownership and control conditions required under UK and European airline rules.

The deal is not complete and remains subject to shareholder approval, court approval, aviation and regulatory clearances and other conditions under a UK scheme of arrangement. Completion is currently expected by the end of the first quarter of 2027.

Lufthansa Group will introduce Starlink Wi‑Fi across its partner airlines over the next three years, starting with a Lufthansa A320neo and extending to a fleet-wide rollout through 2029. Access will be free for Miles & More members and Travel ID users, while onboard use will be governed by new rules banning voice and video calls, livestreaming and speaker playback of audio or video.

The connectivity upgrade is being positioned as a group-wide standard for Lufthansa, SWISS, Austrian Airlines, Brussels Airlines, ITA Airways, Edelweiss, Discover Airlines, Air Dolomiti, Lufthansa City Airlines and Eurowings. The new Lufthansa Group WiFi portal requires passengers to use headphones when streaming audio or video, reflecting customer feedback that shaped the usage policy.

A separate report said the first Lufthansa aircraft fitted with Starlink has already entered the programme, with another 50 aircraft due by the end of 2026. The wider target is about 850 aircraft by 2029, making the initiative one of the larger in-flight broadband deployments in European aviation.

Catania Airport suspended incoming flights on Friday after renewed activity at Mount Etna sent volcanic ash into the airspace over Sicily, disrupting operations at one of the island’s main travel hubs. The restriction applied to arrivals at Catania-Fontanarossa Airport, while departures from aircraft already on the ground continued normally until conditions improved.

The airport operator SAC imposed the measure as aviation authorities tracked the ash cloud through the VONA warning system and monitoring from the INGV Etna Observatory. Later in the day, the airport returned to normal operations after the alert level was lowered.

The disruption came during the peak summer travel period, when Catania handles heavy passenger traffic to and from Sicily. Temporary shutdowns linked to Etna’s eruptions are a recurring operational risk for the airport because ash can affect aircraft engines, visibility and runway safety. Flights were diverted and passengers were advised to check with airlines before travelling, while some reports described rail arrangements for stranded travellers.

Swiss diverted flight LX52 from Zurich to Boston to Dublin on Sunday after smoke developed in the cabin over the Atlantic, forcing the Airbus A330-300 to land safely in Ireland after about five hours in the air. The aircraft, registered HB-JHN, carried 206 passengers and 12 crew members, and emergency services met it on arrival.

Swiss identified an overheated power bank in the business class cabin as the source of the smoke. The crew declared a Mayday to secure priority for landing, while the airline arranged hotel accommodation overnight and was organising onward travel for affected passengers. The A330 was due to return to Zurich empty after inspection.

The diversion came days after another battery-related disruption on a Swiss transatlantic service, adding to scrutiny of lithium battery risks in commercial cabins. Power banks and other portable charging devices have become a growing operational concern for airlines because overheating can quickly produce smoke in a confined cabin environment.

Estonian Air Navigation Services has gone live with Digital NOTAM services powered by Frequentis’ CADAS suite, placing Estonia among the first air navigation service providers in Europe to move the function into operational use. The rollout gives EANS a common AIXM-based digital foundation for creating, managing and distributing aeronautical information in structured, machine-readable form.

The deployment is aimed at improving the speed, accuracy and consistency of NOTAM handling while strengthening safety and operational efficiency across aviation systems. It also aligns with the wider shift toward fully digital, interoperable aeronautical information management, with future integration into SWIM-based information exchange and trajectory-based operations among the longer-term objectives.

EANS described the commissioning as part of its digital transformation programme. Frequentis is distributing the release for the partnership, which focuses on replacing legacy text-based processes with digitally structured data that can be exchanged more effectively between systems and stakeholders.

The U.S. Embassy in Djibouti tracked an aircraft in distress over Djiboutian airspace and urged people to avoid the area around Chabelley Airfield after a U.S. Air Force MQ-9A Reaper crashed nearby on Sunday. The aircraft came down close to Chabelley Cemetery shortly after takeoff, with initial reports indicating no casualties or property damage.

Chabelley Airfield is the largest U.S. Air Force base for remotely piloted aircraft in Africa and a key node in U.S. surveillance operations across the Horn of Africa. The site sits near Djibouti City and the Bab el-Mandeb corridor, placing it close to one of the region’s most sensitive maritime and military routes.

U.S. personnel and Djiboutian authorities were coordinating the response on the ground. The cause of the incident has not been disclosed in the confirmed reporting, and the aircraft type was identified by media outlets rather than in the embassy’s quoted alert. The Reaper is widely used for reconnaissance and strike missions, making any loss at Chabelley operationally significant for U.S. drone activity in the region.

India’s Ministry of Defence has begun formal efforts to join the French-led Future Combat Air System sixth-generation fighter programme, in a disclosure to Parliament on 7 August. The move places India alongside France in a programme that changed shape after Germany exited the joint fighter effort in June, while India continues work on its own Advanced Medium Combat Aircraft project.

The ministry’s update was presented to the Lok Sabha and laid before the Rajya Sabha through a report of the Parliamentary Standing Committee on Defence. It described the push as a concerted effort to co-join FCAS, signalling interest in a programme intended to develop a next-generation combat-aircraft family and associated systems.

No details were given on the form India may seek, such as observer status, development participation, industrial workshare or access to specific technologies. The disclosure comes amid wider India-France defence cooperation, including discussions around a possible order for 114 Rafale fighters and broader co-development and co-production ties between the two countries.

Lockheed Martin has outlined an integrated missile-defence architecture that places the F-35 Lightning II in a broader sensing and targeting role for U.S. air defence. Under the concept, the fighter would contribute tracking data as an airborne node linked to space-based sensors, command-and-control networks and interceptors including THAAD and the planned Next Generation Interceptor.

The architecture is designed to compress the time between detection and engagement, improving the ability to track fast-moving threats and direct the most suitable interceptor before impact. In Lockheed Martin’s framing, the F-35 would function as part of a sensor-to-shooter chain that moves threat information across air, space, command and ground layers rather than operating solely as a tactical aircraft.

The proposal fits into wider U.S. layered missile defence efforts by connecting launch detection, battle management and interception within one networked concept. It also expands the aircraft’s operational relevance beyond conventional air-combat missions, although the material describes a concept rather than a procurement decision, flight test or fielded capability.

Schleswig-Holstein Ministerpräsident Daniel Günther wants the Bundeswehr deployed at German airports to help counter drones, sharpening pressure on Berlin to expand the military’s role in domestic aviation security. His call comes amid a wider debate over how to protect airports from drone incursions and who should act when a threat emerges.

Günther is pushing for a clearer legal basis for domestic military support and is also pressing for a constitutional change to make such deployments legally cleaner. The discussion centres on Germany’s broader drone defence framework, where responsibilities remain split between police and military authorities.

The proposal adds to growing concern over hybrid threats to critical infrastructure, including airports, and reflects mounting political urgency after repeated drone incidents in Germany. For airport operators and airlines, the issue goes beyond security policy: it affects operational continuity, emergency response planning and procurement demand for drone-detection and counter-drone systems.

Air India has chosen Tewolde Gebremariam as its next chief executive officer and managing director, replacing Campbell Wilson at the head of the Tata Group-owned airline. The former Ethiopian Airlines Group chief will take charge as Air India works through a demanding turnaround, with fleet renewal, network integration and tighter operational performance all under pressure.

The board selected Gebremariam after a global search that considered both internal and external candidates. Tata Sons chairman N. Chandrasekaran has framed the leadership change as part of Air India’s shift from stabilisation and integration into a phase focused on execution and expansion.

Gebremariam led Ethiopian Airlines Group from 2011 to 2022 and is widely regarded as a turnaround specialist with experience in large-scale airline transformation, safety management and hub development. His appointment comes as Air India continues to face financial losses and regulatory scrutiny following last year’s fatal crash, while also pushing ahead with a broader renewal programme under Tata ownership.

Typhoon Dolphin forced major flight cancellations at Shanghai’s two main airports on Monday, with Pudong and Hongqiao set to scrap 943 inbound and outbound services as the storm continued to bring heavy rain and strong winds to eastern China. Shanghai airport operators had already absorbed even larger disruption a day earlier, underscoring a significant same-day drop in operational capacity across the city’s aviation network.

Pudong accounted for 642 of the cancellations and Hongqiao for 301, following widespread disruption on Sunday that cut deeply into scheduled movements. State media reported that Shanghai airport capacity fell by nearly 40% as the typhoon weakened but remained powerful enough to affect air travel, rail links and urban transport in the region.

The impact extended beyond Shanghai. Ningbo International Airport in neighbouring Zhejiang prepared to resume operations from midday, although delays and further cancellations remained possible. The cancellations add to a broader run of weather-related disruption across eastern China as carriers and airports work through knock-on effects from the storm.