Luton Rising has cleared the final legal barrier to expand London Luton Airport after the UK Supreme Court refused permission for campaigners to continue their appeal. The ruling allows the council-owned airport owner to proceed with a growth plan that would lift annual capacity from 19 million passengers to 32 million by the mid-2040s.

The challenge had been brought by the Luton and District Association for the Control of Aircraft Noise after government approval was granted in April 2025. Transport Secretary Heidi Alexander backed the scheme at that stage, but the decision was later contested in court. With the Supreme Court declining to hear the case further, the development can now move ahead without any remaining legal barrier.

The project includes a new terminal, expansion of the existing terminal and new taxiways. Luton Rising has framed the scheme as a regional economic project that could support up to 11,000 new jobs and add as much as £1.5bn to the economy. The airport is one of the major London area gateways and the plan now enters the delivery phase after years of regulatory and legal review.

Colombia’s Fuerza Aeroespacial Colombiana has signed a contract for two Embraer KC-390 Millennium transport aircraft, giving the South American nation its first order for the multi-mission jet. The acquisition is part of a wider effort to modernise airlift and aerial refuelling capabilities, and the aircraft will support humanitarian assistance, disaster relief, cargo and troop transport, airdrop missions and air-to-air refuelling.

The deal makes Colombia the first Latin American country outside Brazil to choose the KC-390 and the 13th nation worldwide to select the type. Embraer also said the Colombian fleet will be fully connected to operate alongside the country’s recently acquired Gripen fighters.

The package covers mission equipment, integrated support services and a comprehensive offset programme designed to meet Colombian regulatory requirements. Reuters reported the same order on 4 August, linking the purchase to President Gustavo Petro’s military modernisation plans. Aviation Week reported a contract value of $366.4 million and deliveries in 2029 and 2030, although those details were not included in Embraer’s release.

Embraer has secured a contract with Colombia’s Fuerza Aeroespacial Colombiana for two KC-390 Millennium multi-mission aircraft, making the country the first Latin American customer outside Brazil for the type. The deal, signed in Bogotá, also includes mission equipment, integrated support services and an offset package, while the FAC plans to use the aircraft for airlift, disaster response, cargo and troop transport, airdrops and air-to-air refuelling.

The order expands the KC-390’s export base to 13 countries and adds a new operator in a region where medium transport and tanker capability remains a priority. Embraer linked the aircraft to Colombia’s broader military modernisation effort and highlighted full connectivity with the country’s recently acquired Gripen fighters.

No contract value or delivery schedule was disclosed in the material available. Colombia’s selection gives the KC-390 another foothold in Latin America and follows a series of export wins for the twin-jet transport in Europe, the Middle East and Asia.

Colombia’s Fuerza Aeroespacial Colombiana has signed a contract to buy two Embraer KC-390 Millennium transport aircraft, in a deal that will replace ageing airlift capacity and broaden the force’s tactical and humanitarian lift options. The aircraft are due for delivery in 2029 and 2030, with the first unit scheduled for Bogotá’s CATAM air base.

The package includes mission equipment, initial training, ground support equipment and integrated logistics support, together with an offset and industrial cooperation programme. Colombian officials selected the KC-390 after a review linked to the Air and Space Development Strategy 2042 and the country’s wider modernisation plan.

The twin-engine jet transport is expected to support cargo and troop movement, airdrop missions, disaster response, medical evacuation and air-to-air refuelling. Embraer has also positioned the aircraft for interoperability with Colombia’s planned Saab Gripen fighter fleet, strengthening integration across future air operations. Colombia becomes the first Latin American export customer outside Brazil for the KC-390 and the 13th country to select the type.

Willis Lease Finance Corp. posted stronger second-quarter profit as gains on sales of leased equipment rose and its asset-management platform expanded, with assets under management reaching $4.4 billion at the end of June. The Coconut Creek, Florida-based lessor reported operating income of $34.0 million for the quarter ended 30 June 2026, supported by a larger portfolio recycling programme and continued growth at Willis Aviation Capital.

Lease rent revenue increased 6.7% to $77.1 million, while maintenance services revenue also improved. The company booked $32.0 million in gains on sales of leased equipment during the period, reflecting active disposals of engines and other equipment. Willis Lease also disclosed a lease asset book value of $3.72 billion, underscoring the scale of its core leasing portfolio alongside the faster-growing managed-capital business.

First-half strategy centred on building Willis Aviation Capital through new investment partnerships and seed asset sales, as the group continued to monetise assets and expand its managed platform. Chief executive Austin C. Willis and chief financial officer Scott B. Flaherty were identified in the filing accompanying the results.

Russia will provide additional funding to secure production of the first 18 MC-21-310 aircraft, with Prime Minister Mikhail Mishustin linking the support to the country’s wider civil aviation programme during a government meeting on aircraft manufacturing. The financing is aimed at keeping the domestic narrowbody line moving and at supporting delivery preparation rather than signalling a new airline purchase.

The government plans to allocate more than 250 billion rubles this year for the broader civil aviation development programme, mainly to raise advance payments, support delivery of more than 70 aircraft and expand production capacity. Mishustin also outlined 2.6 billion rubles in additional support for completion of the first three serial Il-114-300 aircraft, while new mechanisms are due from 2026 for future batch purchases starting in 2028.

Secondary reporting identifies Aeroflot as the launch customer for the 18-aircraft MC-21-310 batch, with deliveries discussed for 2027 and 2028. The funding package also ties in commercial loan subsidies and after-sales service development, underscoring Moscow’s effort to support domestic fleet replacement and aircraft industrialisation under sanctions and supply-chain pressure.

London Gatwick has cleared the last major legal hurdle to its Northern Runway Project after the Court of Appeal rejected challenges to the scheme, allowing the airport to move into design and delivery work. The ruling preserves development consent for the proposal, which would reposition Gatwick’s existing northern runway to support dual-runway operations at the airport south of London.

The airport said the decision ends an eight-year planning and legal process and confirms the government’s approval granted in September 2025. The project is expected to enable routine use of both runways from 2030 and to increase Gatwick’s capacity by around 100,000 flights a year.

The scheme is among the UK’s largest privately financed airport infrastructure projects and has been presented as a major economic development for the region. Gatwick has previously projected that it could support about 14,000 jobs and add £1bn a year to the UK economy. Chief executive Pierre-Hugues Schmit has been among the executives closely associated with the project as the airport moves from legal defence to detailed execution.

Air India’s Phuket-to-Delhi flight AI2379 lost about 300 feet in cruise after encountering turbulence on 4 August, injuring 17 people on board the Airbus A320neo. The aircraft landed safely at Delhi’s Indira Gandhi International Airport at 11:07 am IST, with injuries reported among passengers and crew.

The airline carried 137 passengers and eight crew members on the service. Thirteen passengers and four crew members were taken for medical evaluation after the landing, and five passengers had been discharged by late evening while the remainder continued treatment.

Indian aviation regulators were informed of the event, and the DGCA is reviewing the incident. The aircraft’s flight data recorder and cockpit voice recorder have been secured as investigators examine whether the altitude loss was caused by clear-air turbulence alone or whether another operational or technical factor contributed. The carrier described the occurrence as a brief turbulence-related event during cruise, while later reporting also pointed to the possibility of a transient technical fault.

Asia-Pacific airlines carried 30.5 million international passengers in June 2026, a 1.1% decline from a year earlier, as higher airfares and capacity cuts followed a spike in fuel prices. The latest regional traffic figures, compiled by the Association of Asia Pacific Airlines, point to softer demand even in the peak mid-year travel period, with short-haul flying in the region feeling the pressure first.

Capacity reductions appear to have been part of the response as carriers adjusted schedules to match weaker demand and higher operating costs. Separate June industry data showed Asia-Pacific traffic down 2.0% year on year in revenue passenger-kilometre terms, with capacity lower by 2.1% and load factor at 83.1%, suggesting the slowdown was broader than a single market. Intra-Asia international capacity fell 4.8%, underlining the extent to which regional carriers have trimmed short-haul services as fuel costs pushed fares higher.

US-Bangla Airlines plans to launch a dedicated cargo carrier as part of a broader expansion that also covers maintenance, training and catering. The move comes alongside a $1.5 billion growth programme tied to the addition of 21 Boeing aircraft through leasing, with Dhaka set to be the base for the wider aviation push.

The strategy was outlined at the Beyond with Boeing event in Dhaka, where US-Bangla’s managing director, Mohammad Abdullah Al Mamun, discussed the carrier’s ambitions to build out its business beyond passenger flying. The airline, Bangladesh’s largest private carrier, is also targeting route expansion and longer-haul growth as it broadens into a multi-service aviation group.

No launch date, fleet plan or regulatory timetable for the cargo operation has been disclosed. The new freight business would give US-Bangla an entry into a segment that could support its wider commercial diversification and increase its presence in Bangladesh’s aviation market.

Adani Group is weighing a non-controlling investment in a regional airline as part of efforts to improve connectivity at its airports, while ruling out plans to launch or run its own carrier. The proposal centres on supporting traffic to Adani Airport Holdings’ smaller airports in India, rather than building a full airline business, after earlier market speculation that the group could enter aviation directly.

Jugeshinder Singh, chief financial officer of Adani Group, outlined the approach during a post-earnings call in Mumbai. Adani Enterprises has already told stock exchanges that it is not evaluating any proposal to enter the airline business, and the latest remarks framed any potential involvement as strategic support for regional services.

The group is also understood to have sought a change to rules limiting airport operators to a 10% equity stake in airlines. That constraint has become relevant as India looks to expand regional aviation links, with Adani seeking ways to align airline connectivity with its airport network without taking on operating risk in the carrier business.

Korean Air has postponed the closing of its KRW750 billion purchase of the remaining 80% stake in Korean Air C&D Service until 31 August 2026. The catering and duty-free sales unit will come fully back under the airline’s control once the transaction closes, giving Korean Air 100% ownership of the business.

The deadline has now been moved back for a second time, after earlier target dates of 1 June and 31 July. Korean Air linked the latest delay to slower-than-expected clearance from the South Korean Fair Trade Commission for the business combination.

Korean Air C&D Service handles inflight catering and duty-free sales, making it part of the carrier’s broader effort to consolidate its onboard services supply chain. The deal carries an estimated value of about USD525 million, and no change to the transaction terms has been disclosed beyond the revised closing date.

Jetstar will replace its long-standing 7kg carry-on model with a size-based allowance and begin charging for access to overhead-bin space from flights departing on 2 February 2027. The Jetstar Airways change keeps one free underseat bag, while passengers wanting a larger cabin bag for the overhead locker will need to buy Priority Carry-on, with prices varying by route.

The Australian low-cost carrier is removing routine carry-on weighing as part of the overhaul, which is designed to simplify packing and speed boarding. Customers who purchase the overhead-bag option will also receive priority boarding. Jetstar has cited examples of one-way prices ranging from $25 on Launceston-Sydney to $33 on Sydney-Melbourne and $52 on Cairns-Tokyo, while published pricing for other routes will remain dynamic.

The policy applies to Jetstar Airways flights across domestic and international services, including bookings already made for travel on or after the change date in some cases. Passengers travelling before 2 February 2027 will keep the current allowance. The shift moves Jetstar closer to the ancillary-revenue and boarding model used by several European low-cost carriers.

The Federal Aviation Administration is investigating an air safety incident involving Marine One and an Envoy Air regional jet near Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport in Washington, D.C. The episode occurred on Tuesday when the presidential helicopter departed from the White House Ellipse while commercial traffic was still operating at the airport, prompting scrutiny of whether required separation procedures were followed.

The commercial aircraft was identified as Envoy Air Flight 3742, an Embraer E170 bound for Pensacola, Florida. Both aircraft completed their journeys safely and no injuries were reported. Initial FAA comments indicated the helicopter and jet did not appear to be dangerously close and were not on a converging path, suggesting the event was not treated as a serious near miss.

The focus of the review is procedural rather than tactical: sources indicated commercial operations at Reagan National were not paused as required under safety protocols linked to presidential helicopter movements. Regulators are examining whether there was a loss of standard separation, a question that carries added sensitivity at one of the most tightly controlled airports in the United States.

The case comes after the FAA tightened procedures for mixed helicopter and fixed-wing traffic around DCA following the fatal midair collision in January 2025 that killed 67 people. The agency is expected to assess the episode through its safety review process before determining whether any corrective action is needed.

VietJet has been ordered by London’s Commercial Court to pay more than $18 million in additional costs linked to two Airbus A321neo leases after a third trial in the long-running dispute with FW Aviation. The judgment, handed down on 31 July 2026, upheld FW Aviation’s claims over indemnity provisions covering aircraft restoration, export from Vietnam and lost rental income after the leases were terminated.

The case concerns four Airbus A321 aircraft leased to VietJet and terminated after rental defaults in October 2021. Redelivery did not take place until December 2022, and the court found the aircraft were returned in a condition that failed to meet the contractual return requirements. Mr Justice Birt delivered the ruling after a three-and-a-half-week trial in March 2026.

The latest decision follows earlier judgments in FW Aviation’s favour on liability in July 2024 and quantum in April 2025, when the court had already awarded more than $181 million in termination sums and liquidated damages. The new award narrows some claims while rejecting others, but it reinforces the separate recovery available under lease indemnities in a JOLCO structure, a point of direct relevance to aircraft lessors and airlines in cross-border lease enforcement.

The Federal Aviation Administration has awarded $870 million in grants for airport infrastructure projects at 339 airports across 44 states and territories. The funding covers runway, terminal and safety work, with major awards going to Los Angeles International Airport and Miami International Airport under the final tranche of the agency’s $14.5 billion Airport Infrastructure Grants programme.

The largest single allocation is $289 million for Los Angeles International Airport to build a new terminal access road. Miami International Airport will receive $50 million to reconstruct a terminal roof. Other identified projects include $9.1 million for Akron-Canton Airport for passenger bridges and facility reconstruction, $4.2 million for Juneau International Airport to replace snow removal equipment, $3.7 million for Charleston International Airport for terminal expansion and $3.5 million for Sugar Land Regional Airport for runway reconstruction.

The nationwide spread of the awards gives the programme a broad footprint across the US airport system, with funding directed toward infrastructure improvements, safety enhancements and passenger-focused upgrades. The grants form the last installment of the Airport Infrastructure Grants programme, which has channelled federal capital into airport modernisation and operational resilience.

The Federal Aviation Administration and U.S. Transportation Secretary Sean P. Duffy have awarded $870 million in Airport Infrastructure Grants for 339 projects across 44 states and two territories. The funding will support runway and taxiway work, terminal improvements, roadway access, baggage systems and other safety-related airport upgrades, with major allocations going to Los Angeles International Airport and Miami International Airport.

The largest single award totals $289 million for Los Angeles International Airport, where the money will help fund a new terminal access road. Miami International Airport will receive $50 million for terminal roof reconstruction. Other grants will support projects at Akron-Canton, Juneau, Charleston and Sugar Land, ranging from passenger bridge and facility rehabilitation to snow removal equipment replacement, terminal expansion and runway reconstruction.

The latest round comes through the FAA’s Airport Infrastructure Grants programme, which is used to fund planning and development as well as airfield and landside works. The awards are spread across a broad national network of airports, reflecting continued federal spending on capacity, resilience and passenger-facing improvements at a time when carriers and airports are facing ongoing infrastructure pressure.

Paraguay’s civil aviation authority DINAC has ordered Paranair to temporarily reduce frequencies and trim its commercial offering after repeated cancellations and delayed refunds hit services from Asunción to Buenos Aires, Santa Cruz de la Sierra, Jujuy, Salta and Montevideo. The carrier is operating with only one aircraft, and the regulator warned that further measures remain possible if operations do not stabilise.

DINAC president Nelson Mendoza and airports director Rubén Aguilar tied the intervention to complaints from travel agencies, tourism bodies and consumer officials over repeated schedule changes and refund delays. The authority has also required Paranair to align its published timetable with actual capacity, limiting sales to flights it can reliably operate.

The airline has been working to bring a second aircraft back into service after technical work on engines or turbines, but DINAC has kept its focus on certification and airworthiness rather than safety concerns. The regulator has also pursued administrative action over unpaid fees, although Paranair has made a partial payment and is meeting a repayment plan.

AMSTAT data show the preowned business jet market recovered in the second quarter of 2026, with overall transactions rising 11.2% from a year earlier and activity in the heavy jet segment climbing 43.8%. Heavy jets also traded 44.2% above the 10-year Q2 average, while inventory tightened further as supply remained constrained across the market.

The quarter’s strength was broad-based, with total preowned business aircraft activity 14.0% above the 10-year second-quarter norm. Year-to-date transactions were up 18.5%, indicating that the rebound extended beyond a single quarter. AMSTAT put available inventory at 6.5% of the active fleet, the lowest level since August 2023 and below the 8.1% historical average.

The heavy jet category led the recovery, underscoring continued demand for large-cabin aircraft even as sellers face a thinner pool of available aircraft. The tighter inventory backdrop has not prevented transaction volume from holding at elevated levels, keeping the preowned market active through mid-2026.

Senate leaders and appropriators in Washington unveiled a short-term funding bill on 3 August to keep federal agencies operating past the 30 September deadline, setting up a vote before lawmakers leave for their August recess. The measure would extend government funding at current levels through 11 December and is designed to buy time for the next round of fiscal 2027 appropriations work.

The bipartisan plan also contains policy riders aimed at blocking a White House Office of Management and Budget grants rule that would expand political appointee control over federal grantmaking. It would also restrict the shifting of funds to Border Patrol, while making targeted adjustments for programmes including WIC and the Disaster Relief Fund.

The House has already passed a related continuing resolution, but both chambers still need to align their versions before the legislation can reach the president. Lawmakers are trying to avoid a shutdown during the campaign season and ahead of November’s elections, when federal disruption would ripple across oversight, operations and continuity in transport and other sectors that depend on normal agency funding.

The Federal Aviation Administration has published its final transition plan to move U.S. piston aviation away from 100LL leaded avgas and toward unleaded replacements. The four-phase roadmap covers fuel approvals, testing and fleet transition steps, with the agency targeting an end to leaded avgas use by 2030 outside Alaska and by 2032 in Alaska.

The plan centres on three candidate high-octane unleaded fuels: GAMI G100UL, Swift Fuels 100R and LyondellBasell/VP Racing UL100. Phase 1, focused on approval and comparison testing, is due to finish in spring 2027, after which the FAA plans to update the roadmap in late 2027. The agency is also preparing a public FAQ and a summary of comments on the draft version released in January.

The transition sits within the broader EAGLE initiative and follows a requirement in the 2024 FAA Reauthorization Act. 100LL will remain available during the changeover, and federally obligated airports that offered it in 2022 are generally required to continue supplying it until replacement conditions are met or statutory deadlines take effect. Aircraft operators will need at least a new fuel placard, revised operating information and a logbook entry before using an approved alternative fuel.

Lockheed Martin has completed a burst test of the Next Generation Interceptor’s second-stage motor case, a structural milestone in the U.S. missile-defence programme ahead of its Critical Design Review later this year. The test validated the composite motor case’s strength-to-weight performance under pressures beyond expected launch conditions, supporting the interceptor’s development for the Ground-Based Midcourse Defense architecture.

Christopher Jewell, vice president for Lockheed Martin NGI, framed the result as part of the programme’s maturation toward fielding. The company is targeting deployment by 2030, and the latest test indicates that the motor-case design can withstand extreme launch loads before failure. Accessible coverage does not identify the test location, but it does describe the case as a carbon-fibre-reinforced structure pressurised beyond anticipated launch levels.

The second-stage motor case is one of the key structural elements in NGI’s advanced missile architecture, and its successful burst test removes one more technical risk before design review. For Lockheed Martin, the result helps de-risk the composite structure approach as the programme moves deeper into qualification and integration work.

A U.S. Marine Corps F-35B Lightning II crashed at Marine Corps Air Station Miramar in San Diego on Friday, with the pilot ejecting safely before the jet went down near the flight line. The pilot was recovered and taken to a local medical facility in stable condition for treatment of non-life-threatening injuries.

The aircraft was assigned to Marine Aircraft Group 11 and the mishap was classified as a Class A aviation incident, the military’s most serious category. Local footage and reporting showed smoke and fire in the crash area after impact, while emergency crews moved quickly to secure the scene. The F-35B is the Marine Corps’ short takeoff and vertical landing variant, making the successful low-altitude ejection the immediate operational focus of the incident.

The cause remains under investigation, and no official explanation has been released for why the jet went down. Publicly available reports confirm the crash and the pilot’s survival, but do not yet establish the trigger, the precise sequence of the ejection or a definitive technical fault.

Bombardier is seeking a Canadian location for a special-mission modification centre for its Global business jets, with a decision expected in late 2026 or early 2027. The work would support defence and surveillance configurations linked to Saab’s GlobalEye programme, while expanding Bombardier’s existing mission-modification footprint beyond its current facility in Wichita, Kansas.

Chief executive Eric Martel linked the site search to workforce availability, with Canada under review but no location selected yet. The planned operation would handle modifications such as wiring, radar and other mission equipment for the Global platform, mirroring the company’s established work in the United States.

The move fits broader efforts to build more of the special-mission value chain in Canada. Bombardier’s Global jets already underpin Saab’s GlobalEye surveillance aircraft, and the programme has gained fresh momentum as NATO moves ahead with plans to buy up to 10 of the aircraft. No investment figure, capacity target or employment estimate has been disclosed.

Textron Aviation will bring a Cessna and Beechcraft display to LABACE 2026 in São Paulo from 4-6 August, showcasing the Citation Latitude, Citation CJ3+, Citation M2, Beechcraft King Air 360, Grand Caravan EX and Turbo Skylane alongside TAM Aviação Executiva at booth SD65. The appearance underlines the company’s focus on Latin America, where it sees strong demand for business transportation, regional connectivity, special missions and utility flying.

Brazil remains a key market in that strategy, with more than 760 Beechcraft King Air turboprops in operation there. Textron also points to the region’s large installed base across its turbine fleet, using the show to keep its current-production aircraft in front of operators, owner-pilots and mission users.

LABACE is Latin America’s largest business aviation event and gives Textron a platform to promote both its turboprops and light jets to a wide regional customer base. The mix of aircraft on display reflects the company’s emphasis on missions that range from short-haul corporate travel to backcountry utility work and special operations.

The National Business Aviation Association has welcomed new FAA and FCC changes to the radio-altimeter mandate, after the final rule created a phased compliance framework for aircraft operating in the 48 contiguous US states and Washington, DC. The revised requirements apply to aircraft using radio altimeters in adjacent-band spectrum affected by the FCC’s Upper C-band expansion, with minimum performance standards now replacing an immediate fleetwide retrofit.

The rule sets different deadlines by operator category, giving some business aircraft and all Part 135 operators until 31 October 2034, while Part 121 carriers must comply by 30 December 2030. Eligible US operators will also have access to a rebate programme funded from future FCC auction proceeds. NBAA said industry coalition input helped shape the final provisions, including the extended timetable and reimbursement framework, as regulators seek to protect flight safety from wireless interference while avoiding unnecessary disruption to aircraft operations.

Honda Aircraft Company has secured type validation from Brazil’s ANAC for the HondaJet Elite II and completed the first delivery of the light jet in the country. The certification clears the aircraft for registration in Brazil and opens the way for future sales in the market, where the model will be offered through Lider Aviação, Honda Aircraft’s authorised sales representative.

The milestone was disclosed in São Paulo during LABACE 2026, where the Elite II is also scheduled for display. Honda Aircraft has been building its presence in South America around the HondaJet family, with Brazil now becoming a key market for the programme. The validation confirms the aircraft meets Brazilian safety and performance requirements, allowing Honda to move from market access preparation into commercial activity in Latin America’s largest aviation market.

Archer Aviation’s Midnight eVTOL prototype completed a piloted round trip between Salinas Municipal Airport and Monterey Regional Airport in California, with each leg taking about nine minutes. The flight was carried out in close coordination with the Federal Aviation Administration and used a preproduction aircraft identified in reporting as N703AX.

The demonstration took place on 30 July and gave Archer a real intercity route rather than a confined test-point profile. The company has positioned Midnight for short regional missions under the White House’s eVTOL Integration Pilot Program, and the California route fits that development path.

Archer has also pointed to future operations in Los Angeles, including activity tied to the 2028 Olympics. The route between Salinas and Monterey can take around 35 minutes or more by car, making the flight a practical example of the time savings the company is targeting for short urban and regional trips. Current reporting does not indicate a certification change, passenger service launch or new commercial timetable.

Wizz Air will open a new base at Santiago de Compostela Airport in Galicia on 1 February 2027, stationing one Airbus A321neo at the airport and launching seven routes from the Spanish city. The network will include five domestic services and two international links, expanding the airline’s footprint in northwestern Spain.

The scheduled domestic routes are Tenerife Norte, Gran Canaria, Fuerteventura, Málaga and Zaragoza, while the international destinations are Rome Fiumicino and Warsaw Modlin. The Warsaw and Rome services are due to begin before the base opens, with launches planned for December 2026. The move will make Wizz Air the second scheduled carrier with a base at Santiago, after Vueling.

The airline’s expansion is designed to improve operational flexibility and support a broader route programme from the airport. Local and regional officials joined Wizz Air representatives at the Santiago press conference on 30 July, where the base plan was outlined. Secondary coverage also pointed to expected demand in Galicia and broader growth across Spain, although figures on jobs and seat capacity were reported only in less authoritative coverage.

Wheels Up Experience posted mixed second-quarter 2026 results, with revenue falling 4% year on year to $182.0 million and a net loss of $107 million, while Adjusted EBITDAR improved to a loss of $19.9 million. The Atlanta-based private aviation group continued its fleet transition and cost-cutting drive as it worked to lift completion rates, aircraft utilisation and core operating efficiency across its all-Phenom and Challenger controlled fleet.

Gross profit rose to $9.6 million from $2.2 million a year earlier, helped by a leaner business after the disposal of non-core operations and the retirement of legacy aircraft. Private jet flight revenue was flat even as demand for premium aircraft more than doubled, pointing to a business in which higher-end flying is supporting the mix. The quarter also included a $12.7 million non-cash impairment linked to the legacy fleet retirement.

Operational reliability remained a focus. Completion rate reached 99.4% and on-time performance stood at 86.8%, while the company recorded 119 brand days without cancellations through the end of July. Delta’s $100 million revolving credit facility commitment was extended to September 2028, giving Wheels Up additional financing support as it pursues profitability.

The FAA has proposed replacing prescriptive onboard emergency medical-kit rules for U.S. Part 121 airlines with performance-based standards that would let carriers determine the exact contents of their kits. The move would require medical supplies capable of addressing nine serious in-flight emergencies, while stopping short of mandating epinephrine auto-injectors for allergic reactions.

The proposal would remove the existing item-by-item checklists for first-aid kits and emergency medical kits and shift responsibility to airlines and their medical advisers to select appropriate equipment. The covered conditions include cardiac emergencies, breathing problems, gastrointestinal emergencies, opioid overdose, childbirth, seizures, severe allergic reactions, major bleeding and hypoglycemia.

Reuters reported that aircraft would still need to carry an external defibrillator under the revised framework. The proposal also appears to align with Congress’s direction in the FAA Reauthorization Act of 2024, including requirements linked to opioid-reversal medication and supplies for unexpected childbirth. If adopted, the rule would affect all U.S. commercial airlines operating under Part 121 and could change the industry’s long-standing approach to standardising onboard medical equipment.

Embraer has secured a contract with the Fuerza Aeroespacial Colombiana for two KC-390 Millennium transport aircraft, with the agreement signed in Bogotá on 4 August 2026. The purchase makes Colombia the first Latin American country outside Brazil to select the twin-jet military transport and the 13th customer worldwide, while expanding the force’s airlift and aerial refuelling capabilities.

The Colombian Air and Space Force plans to use the aircraft for humanitarian assistance, disaster relief, cargo and troop transport, airdrop missions and air-to-air refuelling. The package also covers mission equipment, integrated support services and an offset programme intended to meet Colombian regulatory requirements.

The deal follows a broader military modernisation effort in Colombia and extends the KC-390’s export footprint in the military transport market. Embraer also linked the aircraft to interoperability with Gripen fighters through onboard connectivity, underscoring the platform’s role in multi-domain operations.

US Transportation Secretary Sean P. Duffy has unveiled $870 million in Federal Aviation Administration funding for airport infrastructure projects nationwide, with 339 grants going to airports in 44 states and two territories. The Airport Infrastructure Grants programme will support runway, taxiway, terminal and roadway works, alongside baggage system upgrades and other safety-related improvements.

The department highlighted several large awards, including $289 million for Los Angeles International Airport for a new terminal access road and $50 million for Miami International Airport to reconstruct a terminal roof. Smaller allocations include $9.1 million for Akron-Canton Airport, $4.2 million for Juneau International Airport, $3.7 million for Charleston International Airport and $3.5 million for Sugar Land Regional Airport.

FAA framed the package as part of a broader effort to improve safety and passenger experience across the US airport network, including family-friendly facilities and more efficient access to terminals. The funding is spread across a wide range of airports rather than concentrated in a single hub, reflecting a nationwide capital programme aimed at maintaining operational resilience and modernising passenger infrastructure.

The US Air Force Life Cycle Management Center has issued a request for information seeking industry input on alternative fighter engine production for the F-15EX Eagle II and F-16 Fighting Falcon, including support for US and foreign military sales demand. The move is aimed at companies that can develop, produce and sustain engines across multiple production bands, with responses due by 28 August 2026.

The procurement review comes as the service confronts production delays, quality-control issues and supplier obsolescence in the current engine industrial base. It also reflects a longer-term forecast that combined domestic and export demand could exceed 180 engines a year by fiscal 2034, increasing pressure to secure broader manufacturing capacity.

The notice seeks evidence of pricing, scalability, sustainment support and qualification timelines for both aircraft types. For the Air Force, the test is not only whether new entrants can build engines, but whether they can maintain output and support over time across a more resilient supply chain.

Lockheed Martin’s Skunk Works has completed an AI-enabled flight campaign at Edwards Air Force Base in California, using the X-62 VISTA test aircraft to carry out 27 live-target intercepts across eight sorties. The demonstration involved the U.S. Air Force Test Pilot School and industry partners, and used real sensor data to guide the aircraft into tactical intercept positions against a T-38 target jet.

The exercise centred on sensor-driven autonomy, with the AI using inputs from Lockheed Martin’s Legion Pod, which incorporates the IRST21 infrared search-and-track sensor. Unlike radar-based targeting, the system relied on passive infrared sensing to identify and track the airborne target.

The X-62 VISTA, a heavily modified F-16 used as a flying laboratory for autonomy research, has been a key platform in testing human-machine teaming and autonomous decision-making. Lockheed Martin integrated and tested the software on the aircraft within three months, while the latest campaign was presented as a step toward future collaborative combat aircraft and other platforms expected to operate in contested environments where radar and communications may be limited.

Network Airline Management has added a Boeing 747-400BCF to its cargo fleet, taking the total to five Boeing 747 freighters. The aircraft entered service in July 2026 and is based at the company’s main hub at Liège Airport in Belgium, where it will support charter and scheduled cargo operations.

The newly added freighter, registration 9H-AKA, previously flew for Saudia Cargo, EVA Air and Air Atlanta Icelandic. It is operated by Air Atlanta Europe and brings additional payload capacity, long-range capability and main-deck loading flexibility to NAM’s fleet.

The expansion comes as the cargo operator responds to rising demand for large-capacity lift across its international network. The 747-400BCF will be used for general cargo, oversized freight and specialised shipments, while recent flights to N’Djamena and Nairobi indicate the aircraft is already being deployed on long-haul African services.

Volaris generated US$3.0 billion in operating revenue in 2025, while maintaining an EBITDAR margin of 32.5% and a CASM ex-fuel of 5.58 US cents. The Mexican ultra-low-cost carrier released its 2025 integrated annual report in July, with the filing also showing passenger traffic of more than 30 million for the year, up 5% from 2024.

The annual report places Volaris among the largest airlines in Mexico and underscores the carrier’s low-cost operating model across its network in Mexico, the United States, Central America and South America. The filing was presented as unaudited annual results, rather than final audited accounts, and was made available through the company’s investor-relations channels and on the Mexican stock exchange. The disclosure covers year-end performance rather than a route launch, fleet order or regulatory change.

Swiss semi-private airline PeakJet has completed its first commercial flight, operating an inaugural service from Zürich to Palma de Mallorca on 1 August 2026 with an Embraer Legacy 650. The startup is selling individual seats rather than chartering whole aircraft, placing the route in the growing European semi-private travel segment for high-end leisure passengers.

The service departs from Zurich’s General Aviation Center and is operated by VistaJet’s German subsidiary. PeakJet’s entry into revenue service begins with a leisure-focused link to Mallorca, one of the strongest short-haul premium markets in Europe.

PeakJet is preparing to extend its network beyond the launch route, with additional Zürich connections to Nice and Málaga planned. Further services to Paris, Munich and Milan are also under consideration later in the year, depending on route rollout timing. The aircraft is configured for up to 12 passengers, keeping the product firmly in the seat-sold private aviation category rather than traditional charter operations.

Japan Airlines and Oriental Land Co. have introduced a Tokyo DisneySea 25th anniversary-themed Boeing 737-800 that will enter domestic service on 4 June. The aircraft, registered JA339J and named the JAL Jubilee Express, will fly JAL’s domestic network through April 2027 as part of a joint campaign tied to Tokyo DisneySea’s ongoing Sparkling Jubilee celebration.

The livery uses the anniversary colour Jubilee Blue and features Mickey Mouse, other Disney characters and landmarks from the park, including the AquaSphere and Mount Prometheus. JAL has described the aircraft as the seventh special-livery project with Disney since the first collaboration in 2001.

The themed cabin extends beyond the exterior design, with special headrest covers, paper cups in three random designs and a commemorative boarding certificate sticker distributed while supplies last. Flight numbers and routes for the aircraft will be posted on JAL’s website the evening before each flight, indicating a rotating domestic assignment rather than a fixed route.

London Gatwick can move ahead with its Northern Runway project after the Court of Appeal refused campaigners permission to continue challenging the government’s approval of the expansion. The ruling removes the last legal hurdle against the £2.2bn scheme, which would shift the airport’s standby runway 12 metres north so it can operate alongside the main runway and support about 100,000 additional flights a year.

The Department for Transport approved the development consent in September 2025, and the latest decision clears the way for Gatwick to enter the design and delivery phase after an eight-year planning and legal process. The airport expects further work before any dual-runway operations begin, including construction and operational approvals.

Pierre-Hugues Schmit, Gatwick’s chief executive, described the approval as lawful and proper and thanked supporters of the plan. The project is one of the most significant capacity expansions in the UK airport market and is central to Gatwick’s long-term growth plans.

Joby Aviation has formed a strategic partnership with Atoms, the infrastructure and real-estate company founded by Uber co-founder Travis Kalanick, to acquire and develop vertiports for electric air-taxi operations across the United States. The initial focus is Florida, New York, Texas and California, where Joby is preparing early launches under the White House-backed eVTOL Integration Pilot Program.

Atoms will identify, acquire and develop sites for the network, while Joby will provide the aircraft design and passenger-flow requirements needed for commercial operations. The project is aimed at building the ground infrastructure required for eVTOL service, including landing, charging and passenger transfers.

The partnership extends Joby’s move from aircraft development toward the operational layer needed for commercial service. It also reconnects Joby with Kalanick, whose former company Uber sold its air-taxi unit, Uber Elevate, to Joby. The companies did not disclose investment size, the number of planned sites or a timetable for the first vertiports.

Cincinnati/Northern Kentucky International Airport has signed a transatlantic innovation partnership with Germany’s GATE Alliance at the Farnborough International Airshow. The memorandum of understanding creates a framework for airport technology testing, business introductions and joint pilot projects between the US and Germany.

The deal formalises a relationship that began in 2023 and gives GATE members access to CVG’s innovation environment in the US, while extending CVG’s reach into GATE’s German airport and supplier network. CVG chief executive Lawrence J. Krauter, GATE managing director Jens Reinhard and CVG chief innovation officer Brian Cobb were involved in the agreement.

The partnership is intended to support aviation suppliers looking to test and commercialise airport technologies across both markets. It covers aerospace and aviation, automated and electric mobility, advanced manufacturing, low-emissions fuels and energy infrastructure, as well as agri-bioscience and life sciences.

A joint working group will oversee demonstrations, pilot programmes and investment opportunities, with further collaboration due to continue at GATE FUTURE 2026 in Hamburg in October. No specific technologies, pilots or commercial commitments were identified in the material available.

Lockheed Martin’s Skunk Works, working with the U.S. Air Force Test Pilot School and industry partners, has demonstrated sensor-driven autonomy on the X-62 VISTA at Edwards Air Force Base, California. In eight flights, an AI agent used live infrared sensor data to carry out 27 air intercepts against a T-38 target aircraft, moving the programme from simulation into live mission-system testing.

The trials used a Legion Pod sensor feed and showed the AI closing the sensor-to-action loop in real time on an operational test aircraft. Lockheed Martin integrated and ground-tested the autonomy on the X-62 in three months, highlighting a faster path from development and simulation into flight execution.

The X-62 VISTA has long served as a pathfinding platform for autonomy and open architectures, and the latest work is framed as part of a broader effort to advance onboard AI for future air combat systems. The tests are relevant to sensor-driven intercepts in contested environments, where rapid autonomy integration and real-world sensing will matter for next-generation crewed and uncrewed aircraft operations.

Qantas Group and Japan Airlines have signed a binding deal to reshape ownership of Jetstar Japan, with Qantas set to sell its 33.32% stake through a share buyback by the low-cost carrier. The transaction will move the Japan-based airline toward a Japanese capital-led structure while leaving current Australia-Japan services and Qantas-JAL codeshares unchanged.

Jetstar Japan will bring in the Development Bank of Japan as a new shareholder, while Japan Airlines and Tokyo Century Corporation keep their existing stakes. Qantas will exit the venture entirely once the deal closes, which is expected by June 2027, subject to regulatory approval.

The share buyback is valued at JPY 8.2 billion, and Qantas expects an about A$115 million gain outside underlying earnings, with most of the benefit falling in FY27. The group will free up capital for its Australian domestic and international operations, while Jetstar Japan plans to adopt a new identity after dropping the Jetstar brand.

Lufthansa Group’s second-quarter adjusted EBIT fell to €383 million from €870 million a year earlier as sharply higher fuel costs outweighed stronger passenger demand and record quarterly revenue of €11.1 billion. The German group lifted its full-year outlook after the results, but also increased its expected 2026 fuel bill to about €8.7 billion.

Fuel expenses rose by about €750 million year on year in the quarter, with at least €150 million in added strike-related costs. Lufthansa linked the fuel spike to higher kerosene prices amid Middle East conflict-related tensions, while network airlines absorbed more than €600 million of the increase. Strong demand, higher yields and network optimisation offset only part of the shock.

Full-year adjusted EBIT is now expected to land between €1.7 billion and €2.2 billion, compared with a previous forecast range implied before the latest update. The quarter still delivered record revenue for the period, but profitability weakened sharply as commercial gains were overtaken by the higher cost base.

Changi Airport Group has begun deploying autonomous wheelchairs for transfer passengers with walking difficulties at Singapore Changi Airport, starting in transit flows at Terminals 2 and 3. The staged rollout is replacing or supplementing manual assistance for selected connecting travellers, with up to 18 wheelchairs to be introduced across the two terminals.

The system is aimed at passengers who can walk short distances but need support over longer stretches of the airport journey. SATS handles ground services and screening, using airline-provided passenger and itinerary data to identify suitable users before departure. Travellers must request assistance when booking.

The wheelchairs run on set routes, use sensors to avoid obstacles and people, and require passengers to fasten a seatbelt before moving. Each unit can carry cabin luggage of up to 10 kg and travels at about 3.5 km/h, close to a comfortable walking pace. A full trip from the far end of Terminal 3 to the shopping area takes about 15 to 20 minutes, with each journey monitored from a SATS control centre.

Changi tested the service from March 2025 to June 2026. Demand for autonomous wheelchairs rose by about 20% between 2023 and 2025, supporting the move from trial to deployment.

The U.S. Federal Aviation Administration has issued an amended type certificate for Boeing’s 737-7, clearing the smallest 737 MAX variant for commercial service. The regulator also updated Boeing Production Certificate No. 700 to include the aircraft, allowing production to begin under the approved configuration.

The certification follows almost a decade of review, during which the FAA resolved technical issues and completed safety analyses tied to the type’s design. Boeing framed the approval as the key regulatory step needed before deliveries can start, though no first-delivery date was provided in the official material.

The 737-7 is commercially significant because Southwest Airlines is the launch customer and has long awaited the aircraft for its fleet plans. The jet’s approval removes one of the final hurdles in Boeing’s MAX certification backlog and opens the way for the model to enter airline service.

Australia has launched a 10-year Defence Innovation, Science and Technology Strategy that places long-range fires and hypersonic weapons, high-energy lasers, autonomous systems, quantum technology, artificial intelligence and undersea warfare at the centre of its military technology roadmap. The plan links those priorities to current Australian programmes including the Ghost Bat uncrewed aircraft and the Ghost Shark autonomous undersea vehicle.

The strategy is designed to speed the shift from research to deployable capability as Canberra responds to changes in warfare observed in Ukraine and the Middle East. It also targets Australia’s sovereign industrial base, with counter-drone technologies among the areas expected to benefit. Quantum technology features in the document as a route to secure navigation and timing in GPS-denied environments, underlining the emphasis on resilience in contested operations.

The announcement positions innovation as a core part of Australia’s future force structure rather than a separate research track. By tying the strategy to platforms already under development, the government is seeking to align industrial policy with operational requirements across air, maritime and autonomous systems.

The UK Civil Aviation Authority has recorded broad improvement in airport accessibility across the country, with 14 of 28 UK airports rated Good and 11 rated Very Good in its latest annual review. London Heathrow, Edinburgh and Glasgow Prestwick were placed in the Needs Improvement category, while no airport was rated Poor for a second consecutive year.

The assessment covers airports handling more than 150,000 passengers in calendar year 2024 and measures performance from April 2024 to March 2025. Bristol, Liverpool, Norwich, Cardiff and London Gatwick, which were previously in the Needs Improvement band, moved up to Good or Very Good. The CAA framed the findings against rising demand for assistance services, with more passengers than ever requesting help, making accessibility a day-to-day operational issue for UK airports.

Heathrow’s performance was mixed across terminals. Service levels were generally good at Terminals 2, 4 and 5, but the regulator was unable to confirm that Terminal 3 waiting-time data accurately reflected the service provided, leaving compliance there unclear. At Glasgow Prestwick, the airport fell short of standards on consultation with disabled groups and individuals, although it has since committed to establishing an Access Forum. The report provides a benchmark for how airports are coping with accessibility obligations for disabled and less mobile passengers.

Romania’s acting transport minister Radu Miruță will notify the European Commission that TAROM is speeding up overdue restructuring measures and will submit a revised reorganisation plan in September. The state-owned flag carrier remains under pressure to meet the terms of its 2024-2026 restructuring framework, which depends on proving long-term viability by the end of 2026 or repaying state aid.

Miruță has acknowledged that measures due by 1 June were not completed on time, prompting the government to put the remaining obligations onto an accelerated timetable. The ministry wants the revised plan to rest on realistic financial assumptions, stable revenue and lower costs, and is seeking a meeting with Brussels to discuss the next steps.

Romanian media report that a draft is expected in early September, followed by a final version later that month. The revised timetable is meant to give TAROM more room to respond to high fuel prices and delays in aircraft deliveries, while the company’s new chief executive prepares updated financial projections for the ministry. Failure to show viability by the end of 2026 could leave the airline exposed to repayment demands and renewed bankruptcy risk.