Lockheed adds two international C-130J operators to start 2026
Mexico has become the first Latin American nation to order the C-130J Super Hercules, along with a second undisclosed customer.
LATAM received first GEnx-powered 787 amid fleet renewal
Chile’s LATAM Airlines Group has received its first Boeing 787-9 powered by GE Aerospace GEnx turbofansLATAM receives first GEnx-powered 787 amid fleet renewal
Avion Express Brasil increases A320 fleet but moderates expansion rate
Newly-established wet-lease carrier Avion Express Brasil has introduced a second Airbus A320 to its fleet, although it has revised down its initial ambitious fleet target.
Embraer full-year commercial jet deliveries edge into lower end of forecast
Brazilian airframer Embraer delivered 78 commercial aircraft over the course of last year, edging into the lower end of its forecast.
Rare footage of RQ-170 stealth drone emerges from Venezuela raid
Social media footage appears to show a Lockheed Martin RQ-170 Sentinel operating from Puerto Rico during the US military’s recent operation to capture deposed Venezuelan leader Nicolas Maduro.
Shield AI begins windtunnel testing X-Bat autonomous fighter
American autonomy specialist Shield AI has begun windtunnel testing on its X-Bat uncrewed tactical aircraft, three months after unveiling the tail-sitting jet platform that will operate using the company’s Hivemind artificial intelligence software.
GE commercial engine deliveries jumped 25% in 2025 amid supply chain recovery
GE Aerospace delivered 2,386 commercial aircraft engines in 2025, a 25% year-on-year increase as supply chain constraints eased and production of its best-selling Leap turbofan accelerated.
Southwest completes 737-700 cabin modifications for assigned seating launch
Southwest Airlines has completed cabin modifications across its Boeing 737-700 fleet, removing one row of seats from each aircraft ahead of launching assigned seating and extra-legroom options on 27 January.
Honeywell settles Flexjet engine maintenance dispute after warning of $470m hit
Honeywell and fractional ownership operator Flexjet have settled a legal dispute over engine maintenance services, with the manufacturer previously indicating the resolution could cost $470 million. The agreement extends their maintenance contract through 2035 and resolves related litigation from Duncan Aviation and StandardAero.
US Army accelerates Bell MV-75 tiltrotor fielding with first planned delivery by end-2026
The US Army has dramatically accelerated its timeline for fielding Bell’s MV-75 tiltrotor, with troops potentially to be flying the new aircraft by the end of 2026 – six years ahead of the original 2032 schedule.
Saudi Arabia’s Riyadh Air formally unveils cargo division
Saudi Arabian start-up carrier Riyadh Air has formally launched a freight operation to complement its passenger airline services.
EDGE awarded ‘landmark’ contracts to supply VTOL drones and logistics gyrocopter to UAE military
EDGE has received a pair of new contracts to produce almost 170 uncrewed aerial vehicles (UAVs) for the United Arab Emirates’ armed forces.
GA-ASI, Calidus sign UAE co-production pact for MQ-9B, Gambit
General Atomics Aeronautical Systems has signed a memorandum of understanding with UAE-based Calidus Aerospace covering potential co-production of the MQ-9B SkyGuardian remotely piloted aircraft and Gambit collaborative combat aircraft in the Emirates.
Emirates highlights Asia-Pacific connection options as it opens Helsinki route
Middle Eastern carrier Emirates is to deploy Airbus A350s on a new route to the Finnish capital Helsinki later this year.
EDGE, Indra sign pact to establish Spanish loitering munition joint venture
United Arab Emirates defence house EDGE has signed an agreement with Spanish company Indra “focused on the development, production and lifecycle support of loitering munitions and smart weapons for Spanish and European defence programmes”.
UK signs ECRS Mk2 radar production deal for Royal Air Force’s Tranche 3 Typhoon upgrade
The UK Royal Air Force will operationally field an active electronically scanned array radar on a portion of its Eurofighter Typhoon fleet from late this decade, via an integration contract announced on 22 January.
Airbus aims to extend runway-overrun protection to A220 next year
Airbus is aiming to extend runway overrun protection to the A220 next year, as it works to certify a safety system for the twinjet.
Airbus closes on key milestones for A380 flying testbed as COMPANION project nears design freeze
At some point in the next 12 months, a freshly-painted A380 will arrive in Toulouse ready for Airbus to begin a series of modifications that will eventually leave it looking like no other superjumbo in existence as it is transformed into a flying testbed for new engines and other advanced technologies.
Supersonic traffic over Europe could return by mid-2030s: EASA analysis
As the 50-year anniversary of British Airways’ and Air France’s launch of supersonic operations passes, the air transport sector remains relegated to the subsonic realm.
NORAD deploys aircraft to Greenland amid international standoff
The North American Aerospace Defense Command (NORAD) is deploying US and Canadian military aircraft to Greenland’s Pituffik Space Base, as international tensions escalate over President Trump’s suggestions that Washington seeks control of the Danish territory.
Air China Cargo receives its final A330 converted freighter
Air China Cargo has taken delivery of the final converted Airbus A330-200 freighter from a batch of eight modified by EFW.
IndiGo A320neo engine failure traced to maintenance assembly error
A maintenance assembly error during a shop visit led to extensive internal damage in a Pratt & Whitney PW1127G engine powering an IndiGo A320neo, forcing the aircraft to return to Amritsar in February 2023, investigators have concluded.
Malaysia Aviation Group reorganises senior leadership as new CEO takes helm
Malaysia Aviation Group (MAG) – the parent company of Malaysia Airlines – has reshuffled its leadership team, more than a week before its new chief executive takes the helm.
Crashed ATR 42’s flight recorders located by Indonesian search teams
Search personnel in Indonesia have retrieved both flight recorders from the ATR 42-500 which crashed in South Sulawesi.
South Korea launches EW aircraft programme
South Korea has formally commenced development of its new electronic warfare (EW) aircraft, with defence contractor LIG Nex1 leading a W1.9 trillion ($1.3 billion) programme targeting deployment in 2034.
Ethiopian signs for more 787-9s and 737 Max jets as construction begins on new hub
Ethiopian Airlines is ordering another nine Boeing 787-9s, which will be delivered early in the next decade.
Tunisia takes delivery of former USAF C-130H
The Tunisian air force has taken delivery of a single Lockheed Martin C-130H tactical transport that formerly served with the US Air Force (USAF).
Airlink acquires E190s to source spare engines and parts
South African regional carrier Airlink has acquired a pair of Embraer 190s sold to the airline by lessor TrueNoord.
Kenya Airways looks to introduce 767 freighters as bridge to 777Fs
Kenya Airways is moving ahead with plans to add widebody freighters to support its ambitions to grow cargo’s contribution to group revenues from 10% to 20% this year.
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.