🎯Today's Aerospace Pulse
Updated 2h agoWhat's happening: Airbus posts record FY2025 revenue and backlog
Airbus reported FY2025 revenue of €73.4 billion, a 6% rise year‑on‑year, and delivered 793 commercial jets. Adjusted EBIT climbed to €7.1 billion and net income to €5.2 billion, while the order backlog hit a record 8,754 aircraft with €123.3 billion of new orders. The company proposed a €3.20 per‑share dividend and set a 2026 outlook.
Also developing:
Blog•Feb 3, 2026
Ryanair Faces €5,000 a Day Fines Unless It Stops ‘Pressure Selling’ Tactics On Its Website
A Brussels Enterprise Court ordered Ryanair to halt "pressure selling" tactics on its website, including scarcity alerts, fake discounts, bundled pricing, and hidden baggage fees. The airline has three months to comply or face daily fines of €5,000, up to €1 million. Consumer groups hailed the ruling as a win for market transparency, while Ryanair argued the judgment merely confirms its cabin‑baggage policy. The case underscores growing EU scrutiny of airline pricing practices.
By Paddleyourownkanoo
Blog•Feb 3, 2026
Few Orders Announced Today at Singapore Air Show
The Singapore Air Show on Feb. 3, 2026 delivered a surprisingly thin order book. Boeing and ATR were the only manufacturers to announce new commercial contracts, while Embraer reiterated a previously announced C‑390 tanker‑transport deal. The limited activity highlights a cautious market...
By Leeham News and Analysis
Blog•Feb 3, 2026
Lockheed Martin Demonstrates Multi-Aircraft Networking with Sniper NTP
Lockheed Martin completed the first flight demonstration of its Sniper Networked Targeting Pod, showing real‑time targeting data exchange between two F‑16 fighters and a ground station. The pod transforms the legacy AN/AAQ‑33 Sniper ATP into a networked node using MANET...
By The Aviationist
Blog•Feb 3, 2026
Fourth EU Clean Aviation Funding Proposal Recognises Hydrogen’s Upcoming Importance
The European Union’s Clean Aviation programme has launched its fourth call for proposals, offering up to €329.5 million in public funding, which together with private investment could reach €824 million. The programme concentrates on ultra‑efficient short‑to‑medium range (SMR) aircraft, allocating €130 million to...
By Leeham News and Analysis
News•Feb 3, 2026
New American Carrier Undergoing Tests
The USS John F. Kennedy, the second Ford‑class carrier, began its first sea trials in February 2026. Repeated delays caused by elevator, electromagnetic catapult, and arresting‑gear problems pushed delivery from an original 2022 target to mid‑2026 and raised the contract...
By Defence24 (Poland)
Blog•Feb 3, 2026
Airbus Sold Airlines the Dream of Space Efficiency on the A321 – Two Major Carriers Are Now Reversing Course
Airbus marketed the A321neo family, especially the LR and XLR variants, as ultra‑efficient narrow‑body jets that could deliver wide‑body seat counts with lower operating costs. The design’s space‑saving tricks—most notably the Space Flex lavatory layout—reduced cabin width to add six...
By Paddleyourownkanoo
Blog•Feb 3, 2026
How a Solar Impulse Spinoff Cleared a Major Battery Certification Hurdle
Swiss startup H55, a Solar Impulse spinoff, announced it has successfully completed a full certification test sequence for its high‑energy propulsion batteries, with the tests witnessed and approved by the European Union Aviation Safety Agency (EASA). The milestone proves the...
By The Air Current
Blog•Feb 2, 2026
Inside The Not So Glamorous World Of Flight Attendant ‘Crash Pads’: It Looks Like a Prison
Flight attendants in the U.S. are increasingly forced to live in so‑called “crash pads,” low‑cost shared apartments that resemble dormitories or prisons. The practice stems from low entry‑level pay that makes hotel stays unaffordable, combined with airline bases located in...
By Paddleyourownkanoo
Blog•Feb 2, 2026
AGS Airports Secures £745 Million Refinancing as AIB Joins Lending Syndicate
AGS Airports has secured a £745 million refinancing package, with AIB joining the lending syndicate. The new capital strengthens the group’s balance sheet and funds a slate of upgrades at Aberdeen, Glasgow and Southampton airports, including terminals, runways and energy‑efficiency projects....
By UK Aviation News
News•Feb 2, 2026
Department of State Has Approved Contracts Worth $15 Billion
The U.S. Department of State has cleared more than $15 billion in arms sales to Israel and Saudi Arabia. Israel’s package, valued at roughly $6.7 billion, includes 30 Apache helicopters and 3,250 light tactical vehicles. Saudi Arabia’s deal, about $9 billion, features 730...
By Defence24 (Poland)
Blog•Feb 2, 2026
Emirates Is Finally Eyeing The Resumption Of Israel Flights After Two Year Suspension
Emirates is reportedly preparing to restart its Dubai‑Tel Aviv service after a two‑year hiatus triggered by the October 7 Hamas attack. Before the suspension the carrier operated three daily flights, a schedule it had expanded only months earlier due to strong...
By Paddleyourownkanoo
Blog•Feb 2, 2026
The Accidental Correspondent: Part 1 — The Strategy of the Sky
Freelance journalist Brian Coleman is attending the 2026 Singapore Airshow using loyalty points to cover the event at no out‑of‑pocket cost. He leveraged Chase Ultimate Rewards and IHG points to secure a United Premium Plus seat and a Holiday Inn...
By Jetwhine
News•Feb 2, 2026
Case of Rocket Debris in Poland Under Scrutiny Once Again
On 19 February 2025 a Falcon 9 booster fragment re‑entered uncontrolled and landed on Polish soil, prompting a police seizure and a prosecutor’s decision to drop criminal charges. The European Space Agency has now issued a €200‑500 k tender to independently reconstruct the breakup,...
By Defence24 (Poland)
Blog•Feb 2, 2026
Net Zero by 2050 Is Beyond Reach, but R&D, SAF Work Continues
The International Air Transport Association’s Net Zero by 2050 pledge, announced in 2021, is now widely regarded as unattainable, prompting many airlines to scale back or abandon the targets. Sustainable Aviation Fuel remains the most viable near‑term option, yet its...
By Leeham News and Analysis
Blog•Feb 2, 2026
Why Is Aviation so Safe?
The episode explores why commercial aviation enjoys an exceptional safety record by examining three economic lenses: market mechanisms that eliminate "lemons" through rigorous aircraft record‑keeping, incentive structures that turn safety into an anti‑Prisoner’s Dilemma where cooperation yields higher profits for...
By Airline Revenue Economics (Substack)
Blog•Feb 1, 2026
‘Brain-Searing Pain’: United Airlines Passenger Describes Agonizing Moment Boeing 737’s Pressurization System Broke
A United Airlines Boeing 737‑700 experienced a cabin pressurization failure seconds after takeoff on Jan. 30, causing severe head and ear pain for passengers. The aircraft climbed to about 8,700 feet before pilots descended to 6,600 feet and diverted to Houston for an...
By Paddleyourownkanoo
Blog•Feb 1, 2026
Staff Revolt Forces British Airways to Abandon Plans to Introduce ‘Masculine’ Neck Ties For Female Cabin Crew
British Airways has scrapped its plan to introduce a masculine‑style neck tie for female cabin crew after a swift staff revolt. The airline replaced the controversial frilly scarf designed by Ozwald Boateng with a Hermès‑origin twilly, but initially limited its...
By Paddleyourownkanoo
Blog•Feb 1, 2026
Singapore Air Show Coverage Begins Feb. 3 (Local Time)
The Singapore Air Show launches on 3 February 2026, marking the Asia‑Pacific’s flagship aerospace exhibition. Leeham News & Analysis (LNA) and its sister outlet Aviation International News (AIN) will provide on‑site reporting, with AIN publishing a daily print edition and PDF...
By Leeham News and Analysis
Blog•Jan 31, 2026
Royal Navy Begins to Explore Integrating Aster Missiles with Mk 41 Vertical Launch System
The UK Ministry of Defence has commissioned a £2 million study with MBDA UK to determine whether the European‑made Aster missile can be launched from the US‑standard Mk 41 vertical launch system. The year‑long effort targets future RN platforms such as the...
By Navy Lookout
Blog•Jan 31, 2026
ATR Maps Out the Rest of Its Decade
ATR CEO Nathalie Tarnaude Laude outlined a decade‑long roadmap that moves the French‑Italian turboprop maker from a turbulent 2025 into a period of accelerated production and market expansion. After a half‑decade of supply‑chain reconstitution, the company claims it achieved stabilization and...
By The Air Current
Blog•Jan 31, 2026
Airbus Facing Yet Another Lawsuit From Flight Attendant Over It’s Toxic ‘Dirty Little Secret’
Airbus is being sued by American Airlines flight attendant Tamar Ferrel, who alleges chronic neurological and psychological injuries after inhaling toxic fumes on an A319 in January 2024. The lawsuit claims Airbus knew of a bleed‑air system defect that contaminates...
By Paddleyourownkanoo
Blog•Jan 31, 2026
Emirates Is So Confident It’ll Win Approval for Berlin Flights That It’s Already Secured Landing Slots
Dubai‑based Emirates is preparing to launch nonstop flights to Berlin, having already secured takeoff and landing slots at Berlin Brandenburg for a Boeing 777 service slated for December 2026. The move hinges on German regulator approval, which remains uncertain due...
By Paddleyourownkanoo
Blog•Jan 31, 2026
New Travel Trends Revealed in The Great British Holiday Audit 2026
The Great British Holiday Audit 2026 reveals British travellers shifting from price‑driven trips to purpose‑filled holidays. Astronomy tourism spikes as the August solar eclipse drives visits to Spain’s dark‑sky sites, while cultural pilgrimages and sport‑focused getaways attract younger cohorts. Short‑haul...
By UK Aviation News
News•Jan 30, 2026
Pennsylvania Guard Shapes Army’s Unmanned Aircraft Capabilities
The Pennsylvania National Guard’s Unmanned Aircraft Systems Training and Innovation Facility demonstrated lethal drone capabilities to Assistant Secretary Brent Ingraham at the Army Combat Capabilities Development Command in New Jersey. Guard soldiers Robert Reed and Brent Wehr provided live feedback...
By U.S. Army – News
Blog•Jan 30, 2026
Etihad Opens Calgary as Canada–UAE Skies Liberalize
Etihad Airways announced that it will launch direct Calgary‑Abu Dhabi flights on November 2, 2026, using Boeing 787‑9 aircraft with four weekly departures each way. The service follows the December 2025 expansion of the Canada‑UAE air transport agreement, which lifted...
By AirInsight
Blog•Jan 30, 2026
Lufthansa Begins Overhaul Of Airbus A380 Superjumbos But Not With The Airline’s Blighted Allegris Seats
Lufthansa has kicked off a two‑month refurbishment of the first of its eight Airbus A380s at Elbe Flugzeugwerke in Dresden, with the aircraft slated to return to service in Munich in April. The airline will forgo its bespoke Allegris business‑class...
By Paddleyourownkanoo
Blog•Jan 30, 2026
Pratt’s Demand Story Shines, the Footnotes Matter
At a recent Wings Club event in New York, Pratt & Whitney President Rick Duerloo highlighted robust demand for new aircraft that stretches well into the next decade. He emphasized that maintaining and expanding MRO capabilities is the company’s top...
By AirInsight
Blog•Jan 30, 2026
United Airlines Teases New ‘Coastliner’ Airplane But What Exactly Is It?
United Airlines has unveiled a new sub‑fleet dubbed the "Coastliner," consisting of 40 Airbus A321neo aircraft. The planes will feature 161 seats, including 20 lie‑flat business class seats and 12 premium economy seats, targeting transcontinental routes between Los Angeles or...
By Paddleyourownkanoo
Blog•Jan 30, 2026
EU Awards Three Contracts for Mobile Responsive Launch System Studies
The European Commission has awarded three parallel studies to examine a mobile responsive launch system capable of rapid satellite deployment from non‑permanent ground sites. Consortia led by PwC, GMV and Sirius Space Services will conduct the research over a ten‑month...
By European Spaceflight
Blog•Jan 29, 2026
Alaska Airlines Halts Pets in the Baggage Hold On Dozens Of Routes As Extreme Cold Disrupts Travel Plans
Alaska Airlines has imposed a temporary embargo on transporting pets in the cargo hold on flights to and from 22 U.S. airports because extreme cold threatens animal safety during loading and unloading. The restriction, effective Jan 27‑Feb 3 depending on the airport,...
By Paddleyourownkanoo
Blog•Jan 29, 2026
Southwest Airlines Announces 1.1% Profit Sharing Bonus But Too Early To Tell If Assigned Seating Will Drive Much-Need Revenues
Southwest Airlines disclosed a modest 1.1% profit‑sharing bonus for its workforce while reporting $441 million profit on a record $28.1 billion revenue for 2025. The airline’s transformation plan, driven by Elliott, introduced free Wi‑Fi, assigned seating and new premium fares, but many...
By Paddleyourownkanoo
Blog•Jan 29, 2026
Wizz Air Quietly Walks Back the A321XLR Bet
Wizz Air has slashed its Airbus A321XLR order from 47 to 11, converting most to standard A321neos. The carrier plans to operate the remaining XLRs as if they were A321neos, focusing on short‑ to medium‑haul economics rather than ultra‑long routes....
By AirInsight
Blog•Jan 29, 2026
Aer Lingus Confirms Its Closing Manchester Long-Haul Base After Cabin Crew Asked For More Money
Aer Lingus announced it will permanently close its Manchester transatlantic long‑haul base on March 31, 2026, ending flights to New York, Orlando and Barbados. The shutdown eliminates roughly 200 cabin‑crew positions and follows a strike over a rejected 9% pay rise....
By Paddleyourownkanoo
News•Jan 29, 2026
Helicopters Remain a Vital Part of the Joint-Force
Helicopters remain essential to modern joint‑force operations despite recent high‑profile losses. Russian air‑assault failures at Hostomel exposed coordination, intelligence, and air‑defence challenges, while the U.S. operation in Venezuela demonstrated precise, integrated helicopter insertions enabled by extensive SEAD, cyber, and space...
By RUSI
Blog•Jan 28, 2026
Is American Airlines Preparing to Oust CEO Robert Isom Once The DCA Crash Anniversary Has Passed?
American Airlines posted an 87% drop in 2025 profit, widening the gap with Delta and United. The loss is tied to CEO Robert Isom’s cost‑cutting and a muddled premium‑focus strategy that left the carrier competing with low‑cost rivals. Rumors suggest...
By Paddleyourownkanoo
News•Jan 28, 2026
Massachusetts National Guard Leaders Deepen Partnership with Paraguay
Massachusetts National Guard Adjutant General Maj. Gen. Gary Keefe led a senior delegation to Asunción in January 2026, marking the 25‑year anniversary of the State Partnership Program with Paraguay. The visit featured award ceremonies, the inauguration of new air‑base hangars,...
By U.S. Army – News
Blog•Jan 28, 2026
Air Canada Unveils Airbus A321XLR Base At Toronto Pearson
Air Canada announced an Airbus A321XLR base at Toronto Pearson, enabling year‑round service to Copenhagen and extending the seasonal Manchester route into the winter of 2026. The new base complements an existing A321XLR hub in Montreal, expanding the carrier’s narrow‑body...
By AirInsight
Blog•Jan 28, 2026
India’s Regional Jet Second Front
Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) has signed a landmark deal with Russia's United Aircraft Corporation to assemble the Sukhoi Superjet 100, rebranded as the Yakovlev SJ‑100, in India. The agreement, announced at Wings India 2026, marks the nation’s first domestic civil...
By AirInsight
Blog•Jan 28, 2026
Learjet 45 Crash in India: Deputy Chief Minister On Board, No Survivors
The episode examines the fatal crash of a Bombardier Learjet 45XR (VT‑SSK) at Baramati Airport on January 28, 2026, detailing the flight’s departure from Mumbai, its attempted visual approaches, and the final loss of signal before the accident. It highlights...
By AvTalk – Aviation Podcast (show site)
Blog•Jan 28, 2026
POLARIS Spaceplanes Wins Contract for Reusable Hypersonic Vehicle
Polaris Spaceplanes has secured a contract from Germany’s Federal Office of Bundeswehr Equipment, Information Technology and In‑Service Support (BAAINBw) to develop and flight‑test a fully reusable, two‑stage hypersonic vehicle dubbed the Hypersonic Test and Experimentation Vehicle (HYTEV). The vehicle, roughly...
By European Spaceflight
Blog•Jan 28, 2026
How to Improve UK261 & EU261
The episode examines the UK261/EU261 passenger rights regulation, highlighting its importance for travelers and exposing gaps when flying with non‑EU carriers like American Airlines, which often leave passengers to foot hotel and meal costs during weather‑related delays. The host proposes...
By Airline Revenue Economics (Substack)
News•Jan 27, 2026
Boeing Posts Fourth-Quarter Profit Despite Losses in Commercial Aircraft, Defense Units
Boeing reported a fourth‑quarter profit of $8.2 billion, buoyed by the $10.6 billion sale of its Jeppesen software unit and a record 160 commercial aircraft deliveries. However, its Commercial Airplanes and Defense, Space & Security divisions posted losses of $632 million and $507 million...
By Aerospace America (AIAA)
News•Jan 27, 2026
AIAA Senior Member Mackey Died in September 2025
Col. Wilfred “Glenn” Mackey, a retired USAF colonel and AIAA senior member, passed away in September 2025. He logged over 4,000 flight hours, served as a Skyraider pilot in Vietnam, and later led test and development programs. After retirement, Mackey...
By Aerospace America (AIAA)
Podcast•Jan 27, 2026•34 min
Artemis II: Inside NASA’s New Ride to the Moon
In this episode, hosts Jacob Pinter and Padi Boyd take listeners inside NASA’s Artemis II mission, touring the Orion crew capsule with vehicle manager Branelle Rodriguez and exploring its life‑support, habitability, and waste‑management systems. They also sit down with Space Launch...
By NASA’s Curious Universe
News•Jan 26, 2026
Indonesia Takes Delivery of First French-Made Rafale Fighter Jets
Indonesia received its first three French‑made Rafale fighter jets on Jan 23, marking the initial delivery of an $8.1 billion contract for 42 aircraft. The jets are now based at Roesmin Nurjadin Air Base and will kick‑start pilot training and operational conversion. The...
By The Diplomat – Asia Defense
Blog•Jan 26, 2026
What to Watch for as NTSB Determines D.C. Midair Crash Probable Cause
On Tuesday the NTSB will announce and vote on the probable cause of the Jan. 29, 2025 midair collision between an Army Black Hawk and an American Airlines CRJ700 at Washington D.C. The board will also consider safety recommendations, though the final...
By The Air Current
News•Jan 23, 2026
Connecticut Guard Home to Specialized Aircraft Maintenance Facility
The Connecticut National Guard’s 1109th Aviation Classification and Repair Depot (AVCRAD) in Groton performs depot‑level refurbishment of Army rotary‑wing aircraft, including UH‑60 Black Hawks, CH‑47 Chinooks and AH‑64 Apaches. By stripping helicopters to component level and rebuilding them to factory...
By U.S. Army – News
Blog•Jan 23, 2026
Three Imaginative Airline Services
The host recounts a stellar long‑haul flight on an American Airlines 787‑9 and uses that experience to propose three low‑cost airline service innovations. The first idea is a simple notification system that alerts passengers when their checked bag misses the...
By Airline Revenue Economics (Substack)
Blog•Jan 22, 2026
FAA Moves to Codify Existing DCA Helicopter Restrictions Into Law
The FAA issued an interim final rule on Jan. 22 that permanently codifies helicopter and powered‑lift restrictions around Washington’s Reagan National Airport following the Jan. 29, 2025 Black Hawk‑CRJ700 collision. The rule lowers the vertical‑lift altitude ceiling to 1,500 feet and defines “essential” flights—medical,...
By The Air Current
News•Jan 22, 2026
Oregon Guard Innovation Becomes Army Standard for Medevac Operations
Oregon Army National Guard aircrews identified a mismatch between the new Vita Vertical Rescue System (VRS) and existing Black Hawk litter straps, prompting them to redesign the strap as SK‑1189‑V. After prototyping with Skedco and six months of testing, the...
By U.S. Army – News