1.5 Million Additional Children Eligible to Use UK eGates From July
The UK government will expand eGate eligibility to an additional 1.5 million children starting 9 July 2026. Children aged 8 or 9, at least 120 cm tall and accompanied by an adult, can use more than 290 eGates nationwide. The change aims to speed up passport control and ease family travel during the summer holiday. It follows the recent rollout of the Electronic Travel Authorisation, which has issued nearly 25 million authorisations.
Flydubai Launches New Direct Flights to Benghazi
flydubai announced it will launch direct flights between Dubai International Airport and Benghazi’s Benina International Airport starting 17 June 2026. The service makes flydubai the first UAE carrier to operate nonstop to Libya and expands its East and North Africa network to...
Kansai Airports Project Wins Silver Award at ACI Green Airports Recognition 2026
Kansai Airports earned the Silver Award at the ACI Green Airports Recognition for its project “Building airport resilience in the face of disruptive climate events.” The award, presented by ACI Asia‑Pacific & Middle East, celebrates climate‑change adaptation initiatives across the...
Ground Broken on Melbourne Airport’s New SkyBus Depot
Kinetic and Melbourne Airport broke ground on Australia’s first electric double‑decker bus depot at 18‑24 Apac Drive, backed by a $52.8 million AUD investment. The facility will accommodate up to 93 buses and 200 staff, featuring two 80‑metre gantry chargers for...
RTX to Invest $26.5 Million in Largo Production Facility
RTX announced a $26.5 million investment to expand its Largo, Florida production facility, creating 100 high‑paying jobs. The new area will begin manufacturing the Condor Mk3 and ASR‑XM radars, key components for the United States’ next‑generation air‑traffic‑control system. The expansion is slated...
US: DFW Celebrates Opening of New East ARFF Station
Dallas Fort Worth International Airport opened its new East Aircraft Rescue and Firefighting (ARFF) Station, the centerpiece of a $130 million modernization program. The project consolidates four legacy stations into two centralized east and west hubs, improving response coverage and operational...
US: FAA Completes Phase One of NOTAM System Overhaul
The Federal Aviation Administration announced that Phase 1 of its multi‑year overhaul of the United States’ Notices to Airmen (NOTAM) system is complete. By moving the legacy platform to a cloud‑based architecture, the FAA aims to prevent the kind of nationwide...
Calm Creates Commerce: Why Emotion Is Becoming Airports’ Strongest Revenue Driver
Airports are shifting focus from retail optimization to passenger emotions, recognizing calm as a key revenue driver. The ACI Global Traveller Survey shows wellbeing is now a baseline expectation, and airports that deliver predictability, calm spaces, and a sense of...
NATS Licence Change Brings New Role in UK Airspace Modernisation
On 6 May 2026 NATS received a revised air‑traffic services licence that authorises it to deliver the new UK Airspace Design Service (UKADS). The licence expands NATS’ remit to coordinate and design airspace changes, starting with the complex London Terminal Control Area...
Veovo to Acquire Dubai Technology Partners
Veovo announced an agreement to acquire Dubai Technology Partners (DTP), a Dubai‑based airport technology and services firm. The acquisition brings roughly 60 airport specialists and AI‑enabled capabilities into Veovo’s Intelligent Airport Platform, widening its Middle Eastern footprint. Integrated offerings will...
SITA Research Finds Aviation’s Record Technology Investment Hinges on One Thing: Data Coordination
SITA’s 2025 Air Transport IT Insights report shows the aviation sector spent a record $50.8 billion on technology, but data‑coordination gaps are limiting returns. Airlines invested $36 billion and airports $14.8 billion, with most citing data‑driven decision‑making as strategic. The study finds that...
Frequentis Modernises Military Communication Systems for the Austrian Armed Forces
Frequentis has been awarded a contract by Austria’s Federal Ministry of Defence to modernise the military aeronautical radio system used for air traffic control and airspace surveillance. The upgrade will introduce secure, encrypted voice and data links supplied by Rohde & Schwarz,...
Air Canada Receives First of 30 Airbus A321XLR Aircraft
Air Canada has taken delivery of the first of its 30‑aircraft Airbus A321XLR order, leased from SMBC Aviation Capital. The ultra‑long‑range narrow‑body fills a strategic gap between the airline’s short‑haul A320 family and its wide‑body long‑haul fleet. Featuring a two‑cabin...
Western Sydney International Airport Publishes 2025–45 Master Plan
Western Sydney International Airport released its inaugural 2025‑45 Master Plan, charting a 20‑year growth trajectory for the new 24‑hour hub slated to open in 2026. The plan details infrastructure priorities, land‑use strategies, transport connections and sustainability targets, meeting statutory requirements...
AIRHART Platform to Expand and Scale Under Full Netcompany Ownership
Netcompany has purchased Copenhagen Airports' remaining stake in Smarter Airports, giving it full ownership of the AIRHART digital platform. AIRHART, an AI‑driven system that integrates data from multiple airport systems, is already operating at Copenhagen, Munich and Heathrow airports. The...
Noida International Airport to Begin Commercial Flight Operations in June
Noida International Airport (DXN) will launch commercial flights on 15 June 2026, following its inauguration by the Prime Minister and receipt of Aerodrome Security Program approval. IndiGo will operate the inaugural flight, with Akasa Air and Air India Express joining shortly. The...
All Wheels Up to Begin Offering CRO Training and Services to Air Carriers Large and Small
All Wheels Up (AWU), the nonprofit that funds wheelchair‑spot research, announced a new service offering comprehensive Complaints Resolution Official (CRO) training and 24/7 CRO support for airlines. Leveraging 15 years of advocacy and a team with over 17 years of CRO experience,...
Long Beach Airport Breaks Ground on Passenger Concourse Enhancement Project
Long Beach Airport (LGB) has broken ground on a $37 million Passenger Concourse Enhancement Project slated for completion in summer 2027. The upgrade, timed for the 2028 Los Angeles Olympic and Paralympic Games, will modernise circulation, add charging stations, a garden area,...
American Airlines CEO & US Transportation Secretary Open SMS Industry Forum
American Airlines CEO Robert Isom and U.S. Transportation Secretary Sean P. Duffy opened the 11th annual Safety Management System (SMS) Industry Forum with a fireside chat on aviation safety in 2026. The event marked the first appearance of a cabinet...
Rotterdam The Hague Airport Trials Hydrogen-Electric Pickup Truck
Rotterdam The Hague Airport completed a week‑long trial of Toyota’s hydrogen‑electric pickup truck, pairing it with Bird Control operations from dawn to dusk. The airport, which has already electrified most of its light‑vehicle fleet, is targeting fully emission‑free ground operations...
Vietnam: Sun Group Begins Construction of Phan Thiet Airport
Sun Group has broken ground on the civil aviation component of Phan Thiet Airport in Lam Dong province, a project valued at roughly VND 3.9 trillion (about $160 million). The 75‑hectare facility will meet 4E standards, allowing wide‑body aircraft, and is slated to...
CLT Runway Project to Generate Live Data on Surface Performance
Charlotte Douglas International Airport (CLT) and UNC Charlotte have launched a runway instrumentation and digital‑twin program on the airport’s new 10,000‑foot parallel runway. Embedded sensors will stream real‑time data on wear, stress and drainage, feeding a digital‑twin model that predicts...
Plaza Premium Group Celebrates Grand Opening of Two New Airport Lounges at Dallas Fort Worth International Airport
Plaza Premium Group opened two new lounges—Plaza Premium First and Plaza Premium Lounge—at Dallas‑Fort Worth International Airport’s Terminal D on April 21, 2026. The First lounge marks the brand’s inaugural U.S. location, offering bespoke service, private dining and curated art, while the...
YDA Dalaman Airport Enhances Operations with a Real-Time Platform to Support Reliable Travel to Türkiye
YDA Dalaman Airport announced a digital overhaul by deploying SITA’s single real‑time management platform, unifying flight, gate, check‑in and baggage operations. The integration gives airport teams a shared live view, enabling faster resource allocation and smoother passenger flow during peak...
EasyJet and Rolls-Royce Conclude Hydrogen Fuel Engine Test
easyJet and Rolls‑Royce have completed a four‑year hydrogen‑fuel engine programme, successfully running a modified Pearl 15 turbine at full take‑off power on 100% hydrogen. The test, performed at NASA’s Stennis Space Centre, demonstrated a complete flight‑cycle operation—start‑up, climb, cruise and landing—on...
Why SkeyDrone’s Partner Approach Matters in Today’s Drone Ecosystem
SkeyDrone, an independent software provider for unmanned aerial systems, emphasizes a partner‑centric, hardware‑agnostic strategy to address complex drone challenges. By maintaining non‑exclusive relationships across hardware manufacturers, service firms, and industry groups, the company can integrate best‑in‑class components into a plug‑and‑play...
Tradition Meets “Made Different” – BEUMER Group Becomes Main Partner of FC Gelsenkirchen-Schalke 04 E.V.
BEUMER Group, the family‑owned material‑handling specialist, has signed a multi‑year deal to become the main and jersey partner of FC Schalke 04 starting in the 2026/27 season, with the agreement running through at least 2029. The partnership links a global firm...
TSA Sets Out $11.7bn Budget Request for 2027 to Facilitate Technology Upgrades
The Transportation Security Administration has asked Congress for an $11.7 billion budget for fiscal year 2027, centering on advanced screening technology, staffing stability, and deeper private‑sector collaboration. The proposal earmarks more than $390 million for computed tomography scanners, biometric tools and automated...
UK: First Large Jet Lands at Doncaster Airport Since Closure in 2022
On 28 April 2026, 2Excel Aviation’s Boeing 727 landed at Doncaster Sheffield Airport, marking the first large jet arrival since the airport’s 2022 closure. The aircraft, part of a 24/7 oil‑spill response fleet, used the runway for a short visit, demonstrating the site’s...
FAA Contract Rohde & Schwarz to Modernise Air Traffic Voice Systems
The Federal Aviation Administration has awarded Rohde & Schwarz USA a contract worth up to $4.9 billion to replace analog voice‑communication infrastructure across U.S. air‑traffic control facilities with its digital CERTIUM Voice Communication System. Production will occur at a new manufacturing...
Ontario Government Introduces Act to Support Expansion of Billy Bishop Airport
Ontario has introduced the Building Billy Bishop Airport Act, 2026, allowing the province to assume Toronto’s role in the airport’s governing agreement and to acquire city‑owned land for expansion. The legislation aims to modernise the 2 million‑passenger airport, relieve congestion at...
UK: Government Attempts to Assuage Jet Fuel Shortage Fears
The UK government has publicly reassured travellers that there is no jet‑fuel shortage in the country, despite supply anxieties triggered by the recent closure of the Strait of Hormuz. It noted that airlines purchase fuel in advance and that airports...
Frankfurt Airport Welcomes First Flight Into Terminal 3 Building
Frankfurt Airport inaugurated its new Terminal 3 on 23 April with the arrival of China Southern Airlines flight CZ8021 from Shenyang. The inaugural day saw 12 arrivals and 12 departures, moving roughly 6,000 passengers through the facility. Terminal 3, built over a ten‑year...
Aeropuertos Mexicanos and Amadeus Strengthen Relationship to Implement the ACUS System at Saltillo International Airport
Aeropuertos Mexicanos (AME) and Amadeus reaffirmed their partnership at Routes Americas 2026 to deploy Amadeus' Airport Cloud Use Service (ACUS) at Saltillo International Airport (SLW). The ACUS platform, already active at AME’s Puerto Escondido and Tepic‑Riviera Nayarit airports, streamlines check‑in,...
A Comprehensive Guide to Belt Conveyor Systems: Types & Functions
Robson Handling Technology outlines a comprehensive guide to belt conveyor systems, detailing five primary types—flat, troughed, modular, curved, and high‑capacity bulk‑handling conveyors—and their optimal applications across manufacturing, logistics, mining, and food processing. The guide highlights key benefits such as consistent...
New TPE Timetable to Include All Night Services to Manchester Airport
TransPennine Express (TPE) is launching a new timetable that adds eight hourly all‑night services between Manchester Piccadilly and Manchester Airport, providing 24‑hour rail connectivity. The schedule also introduces a Dewsbury stop on the 08:05 Leeds‑Manchester service to aid students and...
Romania: Construction Work to Begin on Bus Station at Henri Coandă Airport
Bucharest National Airports Company has broken ground on a new bus station at Henri Coandă Airport, following a tender that secured feasibility studies for the project. The 4,300‑square‑metre facility, located beside the departures terminal, will accommodate at least six coaches,...
US: Why Labor Groups Warn Against Privatising TSA
President Donald Trump’s 2027 budget proposal calls for expanding private contractors to screen passengers at smaller U.S. airports, positioning the move as a cost‑saving and staffing solution. Labor groups, led by the American Federation of Government Employees, argue the plan...
UK CAA Publishes Draft Decision on Heathrow Expansion Early Costs Recovery
The UK Civil Aviation Authority has released a draft decision outlining how early‑stage costs for Heathrow’s third‑runway expansion can be recovered. It sets a £320 million (≈$406 million) cap for Heathrow Airport Limited’s 2025‑26 planning and design spend, and allows Heathrow West...
Vertiport Serving Dubai International Airport Reaches Technical Completion
Dubai’s Roads and Transport Authority and Skyports Infrastructure announced that the first purpose‑built vertiport for electric air taxis near Dubai International Airport has reached technical completion. The four‑floor, 3,100‑square‑metre facility includes two eVTOL pads, rapid‑charge systems and hybrid helicopter capability,...
Smiths Detection Achieves Certification for AI-Driven Baggage Screening Solution
Smiths Detection announced that its iCMORE APIDS AI‑driven cabin‑baggage screening solution has earned ECAC certification. The system, paired with the HI‑SCAN 6040 CTiX, now meets ECAC/EU APIDS Standard 1 performance criteria, enabling fully automated detection of prohibited items at checkpoints. The certification follows...
ACI Outlines Role of Renewable Diesel in Reducing Airport Emissions
The ACI Asia‑Pacific & Middle East webinar highlighted renewable diesel as a near‑term solution for cutting airport emissions. Speakers noted that the fuel can slash lifecycle emissions by up to 95% without engine changes. Case studies from Changi Airport and...
Avinor to Open New New Mo I Rana Airport in September 2027
Avinor announced that the new Mo I Rana/Helgeland Arctic Circle Airport will open on 30 September 2027, nine months earlier than a previously feared delay. The operator will take control of the site from contractor AF Gruppen on 19 February 2027, initiating the operational readiness and transition...
VDL Works. Now We Need to Act on That Evidence
The 2025 operational data confirms that Very High Frequency DataLink (VDL) is reliable, scalable and free of major outages, disproving the long‑standing "crunch" narrative. SITA’s engineering overhaul delivered continuous service, growing message volumes and increased CPDLC usage throughout summer 2025....
FAA Announces Action Plan to Improve Performance at ORD This Summer
The Federal Aviation Administration unveiled a summer action plan to curb chronic delays at Chicago O’Hare International Airport. While peak days this summer are projected to host 3,080 flights—a 14.9% increase over 2025—the FAA will limit scheduled movements to 2,708...
Redefining Airport Interiors at Passenger Terminal World Exhibition 2026
Derlot used the Passenger Terminal World Exhibition 2026 in London to launch three new furniture collections—Trio, Gateway, and Platform—targeting high‑traffic airport interiors. The Trio line highlights circular, sustainable materials, while Gateway builds on its 2025 debut as a favored seating...
Implications of a Potential United–American Airlines Merger for U.S. Airports
United Airlines and American Airlines are reportedly exploring a merger, reviving discussions about further consolidation in the U.S. airline sector. Past mergers, such as American‑US Airways in 2013 and United‑Continental in 2010, showed that overlapping hub networks often lead to...
Zurich Airport Begins Construction on New General Aviation Terminal
Zurich Airport has broken ground on a CHF 100 million ($109 million) general‑aviation (GA) terminal, featuring a new hangar, dedicated apron and passenger‑processing facilities. The project replaces aging infrastructure in the airport’s eastern zone and adds a redesigned taxiway around Runway 28. Construction began...
Now Is the Time to Invest in Sustainability – Here’s Why It Matters More in Volatile Markets
Airlines face heightened fuel price volatility and tightening environmental regulations, prompting a shift from viewing sustainability as optional to treating it as a core compliance requirement. Ashi Hoseini, an environmental strategy lead, argues that cost uncertainty and regulatory continuity make...
A Moment to Purr: Giant Interactive Cat Appears at Hong Kong International Airport
Hong Kong International Airport has kicked off its Easter celebrations with "Moment to Purr," a giant interactive cat displayed in Arrivals Hall A. Travelers can engage the digital pet via a touchscreen kiosk that feeds and responds in real time. The...