Eve Air Mobility completes first hover flight of electric air taxi prototype
Eve Air Mobility has completed the first hover flight of its all-electric air taxi engineering prototype at Embraer’s Gaviao Peixoto test facility in Brazil.
Volaris and VivaAerobus agree to ‘merger of equals’ to form new Mexican airline group
Mexican discounters Volaris and have agreed to form a new airline group under a holding company structure in a merger of equals, pending regulatory approval expected in 2026.
Brazilian army takes delivery of its first UH-60M Black Hawk helicopter
Brazil’s army has formally taken delivery of its first Sikorsky UH-60M utility helicopter, one month after the rotorcraft arrived in the country aboard a US Air Force Boeing C-17 strategic transport.
Crashed Mexican Citation III entered excessive left bank during final approach to Toluca
Mexican investigators have opened a probe into a serious Cessna 650 Citation III accident south of Toluca airport on 15 December.
‘Revamped’ Azul secures court approval for Chapter 11 restructuring plan
Brazilian carrier Azul has received court approval for its Chapter 11 reorganisation plan, clearing the way for the airline to emerge from bankruptcy protection early next year after eliminating $3 billion in liabilities.
Hawker 900XP spun and crashed during stall test after ice contaminated wings
US investigators believe the pilots of a Hawker 900XP were insufficiently prepared for a post-maintenance stall test, during which the aircraft encountered icing and entered a fatal spin.
Wheels Up secures $105m sale-and-leaseback deal in bid to raise cash amid steep losses
Private aviation operator Wheels Up Experience has agreed a $105 million sale-leaseback transaction covering 10 business jets, which will enable the loss-making company to reduce debt and acquire additional aircraft as part of its ongoing transformation strategy.
Coulson unveils plans to develop firefighting tanker based on 767
Aerial services specialist Coulson Aviation is embarking on development of a firefighting aircraft based on the Boeing 767.
Spirit Airlines burned $47m in November but maintains $800m in cash reserves
Spirit Airlines presented a mixed financial situation in a monthly operating report for November, as the company appears stressed but not immediately imperilled.
Northrop’s Talon jet receives prototype designation as YFQ-48A
Defence manufacturer Northrop Grumman has secured official US Air Force recognition for its Talon uncrewed jet, receiving the YFQ-48A prototype designation under the Collaborative Combat Aircraft programme as the service expands its autonomous fighter development efforts.
Israir Group signs preliminary agreement for pair of A330s
Israeli leisure carrier Israir Group has signed a memorandum of understanding covering the purchase of two Airbus A330s with which it plans to open transatlantic services.
Jazeera Airways and Beond selected to establish charter carriers in Saudi Arabia
Saudi Arabia’s civil aviation regulator has selected Kuwait’s Jazeera Airways and the premium leisure carrier Beond to establish charter operations in the kingdom.
Qatar Airways leadership suddenly changes as Hamad airport executive named new chief
Qatar Airways Group has named a new chief executive, appointing Hamad Ali Al-Khater who succeeds Badr Mohammed Al-Meer with immediate effect.
Pentagon deploys first one-way attack squadron using Shahed-136 derivative
US Central Command has activated its first one-way attack squadron, operating strike drones reverse-engineered from Iran’s Shahed-136 kamikaze aircraft – marking a major shift toward low-cost offensive drone capabilities.
Israir in talks to acquire A330s and seeks block-seat deal with tour operator
Israeli leisure carrier Israir is holding talks with a view to purchasing two Airbus A330s for long-haul operations.
Flight recorders found after Libyan army chief’s Falcon 50 crashes in Turkey
Recovery personnel have retrieved flight recorders from a Dassault Falcon 50 executive jet which crashed some 40min after departing Ankara on 23 December.
Russia begins flight testing ‘Product 177’ engine upgrade for Su-57
Subsidiaries of Russian state-owned manufacturer Rostec have begun flight testing a new turbofan for the Sukhoi Su-57 fighter, which the conglomerate describes as a fifth-generation engine with increased thrust and improved fuel efficiency.
Spain confirms order for 18 Airbus C295 tactical transports
Spain has ordered 18 Airbus Defence & Space C295 tactical transports as replacements for fleets of CN235 and C212 aircraft operated by the country’s air force.
Ryanair vows to appeal Italian regulator’s $300m fine over travel agency ‘obstruction’
Budget carrier Ryanair has vowed to appeal after Italian competition regulators imposed a fine of €256 million ($302 million) on the airline, accusing it of exploiting a dominant market position.
Civil aviation design needed rethink from Soviet-era military influence: Putin
Russian president Vladimir Putin says building a modern civil aircraft industry has required a strategic rethink from the Soviet era, when civil aircraft design was largely influenced by military considerations.
South Korea commits $3.4 billion to indigenous fighter engine
South Korea has committed W3.4 trillion ($3.4 billion) to develop an indigenous fighter engine producing 24,000lb thrust with afterburners, with the programme running from 2027 to 2040 and targeting the KF-21 Block 3 variant.
Pentagon report highlights China’s sixth-generation fighter progress
The US Department of War’s latest annual assessment of Chinese military capabilities reveals significant progress in airpower development, including testing of two sixth-generation fighter aircraft and advances in airborne early warning systems.
Cathay chair Patrick Healy to retire
Cathay Pacific Group has appointed Swire Group veteran Guy Bradley as its new chairman, following the retirement of incumbent chair Patrick Healy.
Arif Habib consortium emerges as successful bidder in long-running PIA privatisation
Diverse Pakistani investment firm Arif Habib Group has emerged as the successful bidder for flag-carrier Pakistan International Airlines.
Vietjet tops out new MRO facility at Long Thanh airport
Vietjet has topped out its new MRO facility at the in-development Long Thanh international airport, located outside of Ho Chi Minh city.
Kenya Airways seeks new chief executive as Kilavuka steps down
Kenya Airways’ chief executive, Allan Kilavuka, is to step down from his position, after a six-year term at the African carrier.
L3Harris launches production of Viper Shield EW suite for F-16 customers
L3Harris has launched low-rate initial production of its Viper Shield electronic warfare suite for the Lockheed Martin F-16, after the technology cleared a key review conducted by the US Air Force.
Libya’s Buraq Air signs to modernise fleet with A320neos
Libyan carrier Buraq Air has signed a provisional agreement to expand its fleet with 10 Airbus A320neo twinjets.
EgyptAir agrees sale-and-leaseback of three A350s with BOC Aviation
EgyptAir is undertaking a sale and leaseback of three Airbus A350-900s through Singaporean aircraft lessor BOC Aviation.
Flysafair to take first 737 Max jets in 2028
Flysafair will take its first Boeing 737 Max jets through lessor AerCap following an agreement announced at Dubai air show on 18 November.