Today's Aerospace Pulse
Icelandair to retire B757‑200 fleet by late 2026
Icelandair announced it will retire its Boeing 757‑200 aircraft in late 2026 as part of fleet modernization. In the same coverage cluster, Flexjet’s Irish subsidiary received regulatory approval to operate in the United States.
Also developing:
By the numbers: Eaton merges mobility business with Dana in $10B deal
![Only 53% Full: Alaska Airlines' 10 Emptiest International Routes Revealed [Full List]](/cdn-cgi/image/width=1200,quality=75,format=auto,fit=cover/https://static0.simpleflyingimages.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2026/04/alaska-airlines-boeing-737-max-8-custom-thumbnail.jpg?w=1600&h=900&fit=crop)
Only 53% Full: Alaska Airlines' 10 Emptiest International Routes Revealed [Full List]
Alaska Airlines carried just over 3.5 million international passengers between March 2025 and February 2026, a 6.8% rise year‑over‑year, yet seat load fell to 82% as capacity grew 11.2%. The carrier’s weakest international link was St. Louis‑Puerto Vallarta, filling only 52.6% of seats, while Sacramento‑Los Cabos was dropped after a 67.6% load. Alaska debuted three European routes—Seattle‑Rome, Seattle‑London and Seattle‑Iceland—expanding its long‑haul footprint. Despite thin performance on several Mexico‑U.S. pairs, the airline plans to maintain Las Vegas‑Puerto Vallarta service into winter 2026/27.
General Cherry Advances to Round Two of the Drone Dominance Program in the United States
Ukrainian defence‑tech firm General Cherry has been selected to advance to the second stage of the U.S. Department of Defense’s Drone Dominance Program (DDP). The program, valued at $1.1 billion, will now test 78 drones from 48 companies at Camp Grayling,...
SpaceX Launches 29 More Starlink Satellites
SpaceX lifted off from Cape Canaveral early Thursday, deploying 29 additional Starlink satellites on a Falcon 9. The mission marked the 28th flight of booster B1078, tying it for seventh‑most‑flown launch vehicle in history. The first stage landed on a drone...
SpaceX Launches Improved Starship Rocket in Latest Development Milestone
SpaceX successfully conducted a test flight of the upgraded Starship V3 from its Boca Chica launch site on Friday. The vehicle featured a reinforced heat shield, upgraded Raptor engines, and a revised aerodynamic layout. The flight lasted roughly four minutes...
SmallSat Europe Speaker Focus: Luis Gomes, AAC Clyde Space
AAC Clyde Space, a Glasgow‑based smallsat builder, secured the EPS‑Sterna contract with EUMETSAT in January 2026, lifting its order backlog to roughly SEK 1.1 billion (about $121 million). The company now projects 2026 revenue of SEK 475 million ($52 million), a 61 percent increase over 2025, and...
New Material Could Help NASA Melt Moon Rocks, Harness Lunar Resources
NASA researchers at the Glenn Research Center have identified a previously unknown scandium‑oxide‑based composite that can survive the extreme temperatures of molten lunar regolith, up to roughly 2,900 °F. The material resists corrosion from molten Moon dust and is significantly cheaper...
Crack Found in GKN Aerospace Chemical Tank Shifts Emergency Response for 50,000 Evacuees
Interim fire chief TJ McGovern announced a possible crack in the 7,000‑gallon methyl methacrylate tank at GKN Aerospace’s Garden Grove facility, prompting officials to revise their containment strategy. About 50,000 Orange County residents remain under evacuation orders as state and federal...
3D Printing Continues to Reshape Rocket Engine Design as Agnikul Tests New Engine
Agnikul, an Indian aerospace startup, successfully fired a fully 3D‑printed semi‑cryogenic rocket engine that uses super‑cooled liquid oxygen and conventional aviation fuel. The engine’s throttleability is designed to support a Falcon 9‑style reusable booster that can land after launch. 3D‑printing allowed...
How The MQ-9 Reaper's Triple-Redundant Avionics Keep It Flying For 40 Hours Straight
The General Dynamics MQ‑9 Reaper’s Extended Range (ER) variant can exceed 40 hours of endurance under optimal conditions, though realistic combat patrols typically see 30‑34 hours. Its triple‑redundant avionics system eliminates single points of failure, using majority‑voting logic to maintain...
Ukraine Says Russia Is Using a New Jet-Powered Attack Drone in Response to Its Interceptors
Ukraine’s military intelligence reported that Russia has fielded a new jet‑powered attack drone, the Geran‑4, as a direct response to Kyiv’s increasingly effective interceptor drones. The Geran‑4, equipped with a Chinese‑made turbojet, can reach roughly 310 mph, cruise at 5,000 m, and...
Redwire Delivers Argonaut Robotic Arm Prototype
Redwire has handed over a breadboard model of its MANUS robotic arm to the European Space Agency after a rigorous test campaign. The arm, built by Redwire’s Luxembourg subsidiary, can load and unload cargo, transfer power and collect lunar regolith....
Northern Norway Is Ready to Launch. EU Space Regulation — and Its New Arctic Policy – Is Not.
European officials are revising the EU’s Arctic policy to emphasize security, defence and connectivity, but the draft risks sidelining Norway’s Andøya Spaceport, a key Arctic launch asset. On March 13 2026, Norway’s prime minister and Germany’s chancellor witnessed Isar Aerospace’s second Spectrum...
Australia’s Latrobe Airport to Establish an Advanced Air Mobility Command Centre
Yarra Drones has been appointed to build an Advanced Air Mobility Command Centre at Latrobe City Airport in Victoria, forming the core of the newly announced Latrobe Aerospace Technology Precinct. The precinct is Australia’s first integrated location for AAM research,...
Qantas A350-1000ULR Delivery Slips to April 2027 Amid Airbus Supply‑Chain Woes
Qantas announced that the first Airbus A350‑1000ULR for its Project Sunrise fleet will not arrive until April 2027, four months later than planned. Airbus blamed broader supply‑chain constraints, while Qantas said it will keep the remaining four aircraft on a...
NASA's Psyche Flyby Accelerates Trek to Metal‑Rich Asteroid, Reviving Space Mining Talk
NASA's Psyche probe skimmed Mars at 2,864 miles on May 15, gaining roughly 1,000 mph and a 1‑degree orbital shift. The maneuver keeps the spacecraft on track for an August 2029 arrival at asteroid 16 Psyche, whose metal wealth is estimated in the...
Russia Deploys Hypersonic Oreshnik Missile in Massive Kyiv Assault, Killing 2 and Wounding 83
Russia confirmed the use of its hypersonic Oreshnik missile in a combined drone‑missile barrage on Kyiv, killing two civilians and wounding 83. The strike, the third Oreshnik deployment in the war, underscores Moscow’s push to showcase a weapon it claims...
NASA's One‑Legged LEAP Robot Aims to Sample Enceladus Plumes
NASA’s Innovative Advanced Concepts program is backing LEAP, a one‑foot, 2‑pound hopping robot that could travel 560 feet in a single leap to fly through Enceladus’ geysers. The concept, built on the SALTO prototype, promises a new way to collect subsurface‑ocean...
Scientists Want to Send a Roly-Poly Robot Filled with 'Dandelion Drones' To Investigate Hidden Tunnels on Mars
Scientists propose a pillbug‑inspired "roly‑poly" robot that can slip through skylights in Martian lava tubes and unleash thousands of tiny "dandelion" drones. The drones would ride either natural wind currents or an onboard fan, using piezoelectric polymer for power, to...
Hong Kong International Airport Expands Capacity With Terminal 2 Reopening
Hong Kong International Airport reopened its rebuilt Terminal 2 on May 27, 2026, as part of the HK$141 billion (≈$18 billion) Three‑Runway System expansion. Fifteen airlines, including Hong Kong Airlines and Greater Bay Airlines, will shift check‑in operations to T2 through mid‑June, adding 160 counters, self‑service bag‑drop and biometric...
The Starlink Service that Can Revolutionise Mobile Connectivity in South Africa
SpaceX’s Starlink Mobile, detailed in its S‑1 filing, offers satellite‑to‑mobile connectivity that works directly with standard smartphones through partnerships with mobile network operators. As of 31 March 2026 the service supports roughly 7.4 million unique devices across 30 countries using a dedicated fleet...
Airbus’ Next New Airplane Part 1.
Airbus is charting a new single‑aisle aircraft to replace the A320/A321 family, with deliveries slated for the latter part of the next decade. The program will build on the company’s historical development approach, using lessons from the A350‑900 launch in...
Russia’s Military Satellite Moves Signal New Ukraine War Surge
Between May 14 and 20, Russia repositioned five of its newly launched Cosmos military satellites to an orbital inclination of 97.8°, aligning them with the Finnish‑American SAR satellite ICEYE‑X36 that Ukraine uses for battlefield intelligence. ICEYE‑X36, launched on a SpaceX Falcon 9, has already...
India’s Youngest Airline Adds Flights While Iran War Crimps Rivals
Akasa Air, India’s newest carrier, is the only airline that expanded its schedule in March‑April 2026, adding meaningful capacity as rivals trimmed services. Overall flights among the four major Indian airlines fell nearly 6% year‑over‑year, reflecting broader market pressure. IndiGo’s...
Hypersonic Weapons and Canada Northern Early Warning Radar Systems
The rise of hypersonic glide vehicles, which travel at Mach 5+ below traditional radar horizons, threatens North America’s existing early‑warning architecture. Canada’s aging North Warning System, built in the 1980s, cannot reliably track these low‑altitude, high‑speed threats, compressing warning times from...
ADE Secures $100M to Accelerate MRO Expansion
Asia Digital Engineering (ADE), the MRO subsidiary of Capital A, has secured a US$100 million financing facility from QNB Group to support its expansion and strengthen its position as one of the Asia’s fastest-growing MRO providers. The funding will support additional...
Malaysia Airlines Receives 200th Boeing, Fourth 737‑8 This Year
Malaysia Airlines has welcomed its 200th Boeing aircraft, marking another milestone in the airline’s long-standing partnership with the US aircraft manufacturer dating back to 1972. The latest aircraft, registered as 9M-MVR, is also the fourth Boeing 737-8 delivered to the airline...
Parker Hannifin to Acquire CIRCOR Aerospace for $2.55 Billion
Parker Hannifin has signed a definitive agreement to buy CIRCOR Aerospace for $2.55 billion, a deal that expands its aerospace and defense capabilities. Private‑equity firm KKR, which bought CIRCOR for $1.8 billion in 2023, will retain the company’s Naval and Industrial divisions....
Tema Space Innovators ETF Hits $1 Billion AUM in Just 37 Days
Tema Space Innovators ETF (NASDAQ: NASA) reached $1 billion in assets under management only 37 days after launch, marking one of the fastest accumulations for a thematic fund. The surge reflects heightened investor appetite for space‑related equities and a broader shift...
UK MoD Allocates £10 Million to Develop Autonomous Drones for Apache Helicopters
On May 15, 2026, the UK Ministry of Defence announced a £10 million ($13.3 million) investment in Project NYX, a program to develop autonomous loyal‑wingman drones for AH‑64E Apache attack helicopters. Four British‑based firms – Anduril Industries UK, BAE Systems, Tekever, and...
China Launches Shenzhou‑23 for Record One‑Year Stay on Tiangong
China launched the Shenzhou‑23 crewed spacecraft on May 24, 2026, sending commander Zhu Yangzhu, pilot Zhang Zhiyuan and payload specialist Li Jiaying to the Tiangong space station for a planned one‑year orbital stay. The mission sets a new duration record...
Blue Origin Secures $600 Million Florida Expansion and FAA Clearance for New Glenn
Florida Governor Ron DeSantis announced a $600 million expansion of Blue Origin’s Cape Canaveral campus, creating 500 high‑paying aerospace jobs. The Federal Aviation Administration cleared the New Glenn heavy‑lift rocket to fly again after an April upper‑stage anomaly, allowing the company to pursue...
NASA Adds Six Crew‑Dragon Missions to SpaceX Contract, Extending ISS Crew Access to 2030
NASA announced a May 18 procurement filing to add six post‑certification Crew‑Dragon missions to its commercial crew contract with SpaceX, securing crew transport through late 2030. The move hedges against Boeing’s Starliner certification delays and keeps six‑month ISS rotations intact.
Low Fuel: Delta Air Lines Flight Diverts After Disabled Plane Occupies Albuquerque Runway
Delta Air Lines flight 1109, a Boeing 737‑900ER with 178 passengers, diverted to Farmington after a disabled general‑aviation plane blocked Albuquerque’s main runway, leaving the aircraft with low fuel reserves. The runway closure forced a go‑around and a short‑haul diversion, where passengers...
Ageing Hawk T1s Force Red Arrows Down to Seven Jet Formation for Most Displays
The Royal Air Force Aerobatic Team will reduce its regular display formation from nine to seven Hawk T1 jets through at least 2030 to conserve spare parts and flight hours. The cut applies to most shows, while special events can...
Why Airlines Are Cutting Open Retired Boeing 777s & Turning Them Into Freighters
Air cargo operators are turning retired Boeing 777‑300ER passenger jets into freighters after the 747 fleet ages out. The 777‑300ERSF conversion adds a main‑deck cargo door and reinforced flooring, delivering 811 cubic meters of volume—about 14% more than a converted 747‑400....
NASA Streamlines Structure to Accelerate Artemis Lunar Push
NASA Administrator Jared Isaacman announced a sweeping internal realignment that consolidates directorates, shortens decision chains and puts the Artemis lunar program at the forefront. The restructuring promises cost savings without layoffs, aiming to deliver a Moon base, nuclear space reactor...
How Much Money Do Boeing 747 Pilots Earn In 2026?
Boeing 747 pilots remain among the highest‑paid aviators in 2026, with an average U.S. base salary of about $135,000. Senior captains at cargo carriers such as Atlas Air and UPS Airlines can earn $300,000‑$450,000 when overtime, per‑diem and profit‑sharing are included, while passenger...
Metric Conversion Error Halved Fuel, Causing Dual Engine Failure
Both Engines Died At 41,000 Feet — Canada’s Metric Switch Left A Brand New Boeing 767 With Half The Fuel It Needed - View from the Wing https://t.co/lFoYIopoY9
NASA Practically Eliminates Any Starliner Flights Before ISS Retires
NASA’s May 18 procurement filing adds up to six additional crewed flights for SpaceX, extending its commercial crew contract through late 2030. The extension covers three years of ISS operations at a cadence of one mission every six months, effectively crowding out...
China Launches Three Astronauts to Its Tiangong-3 Space Station
China successfully launched three astronauts aboard a Long March 2F rocket from Jiuquan to its Tiangong‑3 space station. The crew is slated to dock within 3.5 hours and begin a six‑month stay that could be extended to a year based on performance. One...
SpaceX Accuses AT&T, T‑Mobile, Verizon of Colluding to Block Starlink Mobile
SpaceX has publicly accused the three largest U.S. wireless carriers of colluding to impede its Starlink Mobile satellite broadband rollout. The claim follows SpaceX's recent $20 billion spectrum acquisition with EchoStar and comes as the carriers announce a joint venture to...
Citi Raises Boeing Target to $260, Citing Defense Surge After Q1 Earnings
Citi lifted its Boeing price target to $260, up from $256, after the company posted a 21% jump in first‑quarter defense revenue to $7.6 billion and a record $86 billion defense backlog. The analyst team argues the defense sell‑off has over‑corrected, creating...
Italy Switches €1.39 Bn Tanker Order From Boeing to Airbus, Redefining Europe’s Air‑Refueler Market
Italy’s defence ministry signed a €1.39 billion contract on 16 April 2026 for six Airbus A330 MRTT tankers, formally cancelling the previously planned Boeing KC‑46 Pegasus purchase. The move redirects a multi‑billion‑dollar procurement from the United States to Europe, bolstering Airbus’s lead in...
Anduril Wins Share of $1.8 B Space Force GEO Contract
Anduril Industries has been awarded a portion of the U.S. Space Force's $1.8 billion Andromeda program, a 10‑year effort to field autonomous satellites in geosynchronous orbit. The contract places the defense‑tech start‑up alongside established aerospace giants as the service seeks “neighborhood‑watch”...
Both Engines Died At 41,000 Feet — Canada’s Metric Switch Left A Brand New Boeing 767 With Half The Fuel...
In July 1983 Air Canada Flight 143, a brand‑new Boeing 767 ran out of fuel at 41,000 ft because a metric conversion error halved the fuel load. Both engines flamed out, turning the jet into a glider. Captain Robert Pearson, a qualified...
This Zurich Startup Built a Four-Armed Robot for Space Stations. Each Astronaut Hour It Saves Is Worth $140,000.
Zurich‑based Orbit Robotics unveiled Helios, a four‑armed robot built for microgravity environments on space stations. The design replaces legs with two anchoring arms and two working arms, using tendon‑driven actuation to keep weight low while maintaining dexterity. Helios targets the...
Shenzhou 23 Launch Carries First Hong Kong Specialist
LAUNCH at 1508 UTC May 24 of Shenzhou 23 carrying Chinese astronauts 朱杨柱 (Zhu Yangzhu), 张志远 (Zhang Zhiyan) and Hong Kong payload specialist 黎家盈 (Lai Ka-ying)
Hongkongers Praise Astronaut Lai Ka-Ying at Send-Off Ceremony in Jiuquan
Hong Kong’s first astronaut, police superintendent Lai Ka‑ying, joined the Shenzhou‑23 crew for a launch from Jiuquan, drawing enthusiastic cheers from Hongkongers at the send‑off ceremony. Lai, the fourth Chinese woman in space and the mission’s payload specialist, will spend...
China’s ‘Bohai Sea Monster’ Spotted with Military Upgrade
New photos of China’s experimental wing‑in‑ground‑effect craft, dubbed the Bohai Sea Monster, show four external weapons pylons under the wings, indicating a combat‑oriented design. The prototype, first identified in June 2025, features turboprop engines, a V‑shaped tail and a hull...
BAE Delivers Sensor Hardware for Space Force Satellite
BAE Systems has delivered the sensor subassembly and controller for the U.S. Space Force’s Next Generation Overhead Persistent Infrared Polar (NGP) programme, keeping the schedule for a 2028 launch. The hardware is part of Flight Unit 1, the first of two...