Blog•Feb 7, 2026
Airlink Scales Up Service to Zambia
South African carrier Airlink will boost service between Johannesburg and Ndola, Zambia, adding a second daily flight on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays starting March 30, 2026. The new schedule includes overnight aircraft in Ndola, enabling early‑morning departures to Johannesburg on Tuesdays, Thursdays and Saturdays. The expanded frequency targets business travelers and supports the Copperbelt’s intensive mining operations. Airlink’s move expands its Southern African network, which already covers more than 45 destinations.
By AirlineGeeks
Blog•Feb 7, 2026
British Airways Rolling Out New Electronic Meal Ordering System In Club World But The Reason Is Baffling
British Airways is set to launch an iPhone‑based meal ordering app, iOrder, for its Club World business class cabin. The airline says the system will give real‑time data on passenger preferences, helping to align meal loading ratios with demand and...
By Paddleyourownkanoo
Blog•Feb 6, 2026
Norse Discloses Unit Revenue Performance In January
Norse Atlantic Airways began publishing its total revenue per available seat kilometer (TRASK) for January, showing a 21% year‑on‑year increase. Passenger traffic rose 36% YoY to 151,237, while capacity (ASK) grew 23% and RPKs climbed 31%. ACMI operations surged, with...
By AirInsight
Blog•Feb 6, 2026
Press Release: LATAM Extends AeroSHARK Use Across 777-300ER Fleet
LATAM Airlines Group is expanding its use of AeroSHARK, a sharkskin-inspired drag‑reduction film developed by Lufthansa Technik and BASF Coatings, to the entire ten‑aircraft Boeing 777‑300ER fleet. The rollout adds five more shipsets, bringing the total to ten, and aims...
By Runway Girl Network
Blog•Feb 6, 2026
Airbus’s Worst January in a Decade Raises Red Flags
Airbus recorded its lowest January deliveries in a decade, handing over just 19 aircraft to 15 customers in January 2026. This marks a sharp drop from the 35 deliveries in the same month last year and well below the decade‑average...
By AirInsight
Blog•Feb 6, 2026
Berlin Airport Grounds Flights For Second Day In A Row As Freezing Rain And Black Ice Cause Havoc
Berlin Brandenburg Airport (BER) halted flights for a second consecutive day as freezing rain produced black ice on runways and taxiways. The German Weather Service issued a severe warning, citing life‑threatening slippery conditions that have already driven up hospital admissions....
By Paddleyourownkanoo
Blog•Feb 6, 2026
Some Pleasing Aviation Arithmetic
The episode explores three seemingly simple aviation calculations that have outsized operational impacts: why daily service vastly outperforms a five‑days‑a‑week schedule by multiplying passenger choice; why a 3‑3‑3 seat layout is favored over a 2‑5‑2 configuration due to cabin efficiency...
By Airline Revenue Economics (Substack)
Blog•Feb 5, 2026
F-15SA Development Aircraft Used to Test AGM-84 Harpoon Block II Update
The U.S. Navy completed the final flight test of the AGM‑84 Harpoon Block II Update on Jan 16 2026, using a Boeing‑operated F‑15SA (tail 12‑1002) from Point Mugu. The test demonstrated successful coastal target suppression against a land target, confirming the GPS‑aided navigation and...
By The Aviationist
Blog•Feb 5, 2026
British Aviation Regulator Tells Airlines To Show Passengers The Impact Their Flight Will Have On The Enviroment
The UK Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) has issued new guidance requiring airlines and price‑comparison websites to display the carbon emissions of each flight sold to British consumers, using standard units such as kg CO₂e per passenger. The rule takes effect...
By Paddleyourownkanoo
Blog•Feb 5, 2026
Eurofighter and NETMA to Resume Working on Aerodynamic Modification Kit
Eurofighter and NATO’s NETMA have signed a contract to revive the Aerodynamic Modification Kit (AMK) for the Typhoon, restarting development, testing and certification after its 2015 flight‑test campaign. The kit reshapes airflow with new strakes, leading‑edge extensions and larger flaperons,...
By The Aviationist
Blog•Feb 5, 2026
AirAsia Has Limited Leverage in the A220 Showdown
AirAsia is rumored to be negotiating a sizable order of 100 Airbus A220 jets with an additional 50 options ahead of the Singapore Airshow, but the carrier has not confirmed any commitment. The airline’s constrained cash position and focus on...
By AirInsight
Blog•Feb 5, 2026
The Exploration Company Completes Nyx Splashdown Tests
The Exploration Company announced the completion of a controlled splashdown test campaign for a 1:4‑scale mockup of its Nyx reusable capsule. Conducted at the National Research Council’s Institute of Marine Engineering in Rome, the program executed 20 drops between 13...
By European Spaceflight
Blog•Feb 5, 2026
Outlook 2026: The Airliner Projects that Promise New Technology and Lower Emissions
The 2026 outlook surveys airliner projects that break away from traditional gas‑turbine tube‑and‑wing designs, emphasizing lower emissions and potential cost reductions. The analysis narrows to programs closest to certification, filtering out the dozens of concepts still in early stages. Despite...
By Leeham News and Analysis
Blog•Feb 4, 2026
Rolls-Royce’s Trent 1000 XE Targets 787 Comeback
Rolls‑Royce unveiled the Trent 1000 XE, the new production‑standard engine for all future Boeing 787 deliveries. The XE incorporates a Durability Enhancement package that boosts time‑on‑wing and cuts emissions compared with the Trent 1000 TEN. The launch follows a slowdown in 787 engine orders and...
By AirInsight
Blog•Feb 4, 2026
Lufthansa Group to Retain Current IFC Until Starlink Pivot Is Complete
Lufthansa Group announced a fleet‑wide shift to SpaceX Starlink, planning rollout from late 2026 to 2029, while retaining its existing inflight connectivity (IFC) systems—Viasat’s European Aviation Network (EAN) on narrow‑bodies and Panasonic’s multi‑orbit solution on some A330s—until Starlink is fully...
By Runway Girl Network
Blog•Feb 4, 2026
Indonesia Abandons F-15EX, Selects M-346F to Replace Hawk
Indonesia has officially dropped its plan to buy 24 Boeing F‑15EX fighters, ending a stalled procurement that began with an MOU in 2023. Instead, the country signed a Letter of Intent with Leonardo for the M‑346F Block 20, a light‑fighter/advanced trainer...
By The Aviationist
Blog•Feb 4, 2026
Press Release: Panasonic to Explore LEO IFC Opportunities with Spacesail
Panasonic Avionics announced an MOU with Shanghai Spacesail Technologies to integrate Spacesail’s Low Earth Orbit (LEO) satellite constellation into its in‑flight connectivity (IFEC) network, enhancing global broadband coverage for airlines. The partnership aims to deliver higher speeds, lower latency, and...
By Runway Girl Network
Blog•Feb 4, 2026
Press Release: CAE to Deliver Breakthrough FFS to Train Eve eVTOL Pilots
At the Singapore Airshow 2026, CAE announced that its joint venture with Embraer, Embraer‑CAE Training Services (ECTS), will receive its first full‑flight simulator (FFS) dedicated to training pilots for Eve Air Mobility’s eVTOL aircraft. The CAE 3000 series simulator features...
By Runway Girl Network
Blog•Feb 4, 2026
Singapore Air Show Reports only One Airline Order Today
The Singapore Air Show closed with only a single airline order, underscoring a tentative market mood. Pratt & Whitney reported a modest pickup in engine interest, while Vietjet remains cautious until the new geared‑turbo‑fan (GTF) engines prove reliable. Meanwhile, China...
By Leeham News and Analysis
Blog•Feb 4, 2026
Isar Aerospace to Expand Testing Facilities as It Prepares for Next Spectrum Flight
Isar Aerospace announced a purpose‑built acceptance test facility at Sweden’s Esrange Space Center, boosting its capacity to test over 30 Aquila engines per month and conduct full stage acceptance tests. The expansion comes as the company readies the second flight...
By European Spaceflight
Blog•Feb 4, 2026
Day 2 Singapore Airshow: Tigerair Taiwan Adds A321neos to the Fleet
Tigerair Taiwan announced a direct order for four Airbus A321neo jets at the Singapore Airshow, marking Airbus' first order on the event’s second day. The new aircraft will increase seat capacity to 232 per plane, complementing the carrier’s existing fleet...
By AirInsight
Blog•Feb 4, 2026
Airlines Prevail In Striking Down Biden-Era War On ‘Junk Fees’ Rule After Long Court Battle
A U.S. appeals court has vacated the Biden administration’s “junk‑fee” rule that would have required airlines to display all ancillary charges up front. The judges determined the DOT relied on a study that was not released during the public comment...
By Paddleyourownkanoo
Blog•Feb 4, 2026
HAL Sidelined, Private Giants Shortlisted for India’s AMCA Stealth Jet
India's Ministry of Defence has shortlisted three private aerospace giants—Tata Advanced Systems, Larsen & Toubro and Bharat Forge—to lead the development of the Advanced Medium Combat Aircraft (AMCA), the country's first indigenous fifth‑generation stealth fighter. For the first time, state‑run Hindustan Aeronautics...
By Livefist
Blog•Feb 4, 2026
United Airlines Clears Massive Tech Upgrade That Took Nearly All Critical Services Offline and Grounded Planes
United Airlines executed a four‑and‑a‑half‑hour, full‑system shutdown on Wednesday to advance one of the largest technology upgrades in its history. The outage disabled flight booking, check‑in, MileagePlus accounts and even the customer‑service line, forcing flight retimes and cancellations. The carrier...
By Paddleyourownkanoo
Blog•Feb 4, 2026
The Case for Vueling's Zero-Avios Move
The episode examines Vueling’s decision to stop offering Avios points to most passengers, outlining the new tiered earn rates that only reward higher spenders. It argues that the move is unlikely to generate extra revenue but can save costs by...
By Airline Revenue Economics (Substack)
Blog•Feb 4, 2026
Press Release: Singapore to Become R&D Centre for Thales FlytEDGE
During the Singapore Airshow 2026, Thales announced new MoUs with Singapore's Economic Development Board to expand its AI, cloud, edge computing, and data engineering capabilities, positioning Singapore as one of three global R&D centres for its FlytEDGE inflight entertainment platform....
By Runway Girl Network
Blog•Feb 3, 2026
What’s the Big Obsession With Doors?
Cathay Pacific’s new Aria business‑class suite on its Boeing 777‑300 now features a sliding door, joining a growing fleet of premium cabins that prioritize enclosure. The author, on a two‑hour Bangkok‑Hong Kong flight, praised the suite’s spacious layout, high‑quality food and...
By Ask the Pilot
Blog•Feb 3, 2026
Air Cambodia Places Their Largest Ever Single-Aisle Order
Air Cambodia announced its largest single‑aisle purchase, ordering up to 20 Boeing 737 Max 8 jets at the Singapore Airshow. The deal includes a firm order for 10 aircraft with options for another 10, aiming to expand the carrier’s network across North...
By UK Aviation News
Blog•Feb 3, 2026
U.S. F-35C Shoots Down Iranian Drone Heading for USS Lincoln
On February 3 2026 a U.S. F‑35C launched from the USS Abraham Lincoln shot down an Iranian Shahed‑139 drone that was aggressively approaching the carrier in the Arabian Sea, roughly 500 miles off Iran’s coast. The intercept came after de‑escalatory measures failed to divert the...
By The Aviationist
Blog•Feb 3, 2026
‘Chilling Effect on Safety’: FAA Inspector Says United Slapped Lifetime Ban On Him For Raising Safety Concerns
A Federal Aviation Administration inspector, Paul Asmus, has sued United Airlines, alleging the carrier imposed a lifetime travel ban and filed a civil complaint after he reported safety concerns on a 2022 flight. United allegedly demanded over $3,000 in restitution,...
By Paddleyourownkanoo
Blog•Feb 3, 2026
CNES to Fill Commercial Launch Facility Vacancy Left by MaiaSpace
The French space agency CNES announced a fresh call for launch operators to occupy the vacancy left by MaiaSpace at its new multi‑user ELM (Ensemble de Lancement Multilanceurs) facility in French Guiana. The site, built on the former Diamant launch...
By European Spaceflight
Blog•Feb 3, 2026
Southwest Airlines Passengers Are Just Discovering There’s a Locked Overhead Bin Just For Crew And They Are Furious
Southwest Airlines has eliminated its free checked‑bag allowance and introduced assigned seating, concentrating carry‑on luggage in the front rows. Passengers in rows two through five find the overhead bins already full, while a locked crew‑only bin above rows two and...
By Paddleyourownkanoo
Blog•Feb 3, 2026
Two Confirmed Killed in Rochdale Cirrus Crash
A Cirrus SR20 light aircraft that departed Birmingham crashed near Littleborough, close to Rochdale, around 11 am. The aircraft’s ballistic recovery system (CAPS) deployed but became snagged on power lines. Police have recovered the bodies of both occupants, confirming two men...
By UK Aviation News
Blog•Feb 3, 2026
Boeing Surges; Airbus Reloads in Early 2026
Boeing’s early‑2026 delivery pipeline is accelerating, delivering a surge in cash flow as customers accept aircraft and make final payments. Airbus, meanwhile, is reloading its order book after a strong showing at the Singapore Air Show, where new commitments were...
By AirInsight
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...
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
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
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
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