50 SKY SHADES - World aviation news

Aviation essential

Essential and most important aviation news

Latest essential aviation news

Fraport-Copelouzos Consortium signs contracts for managing 14 Greek Airports

Fraport AG Frankfurt Airport Services Worldwide and its Greek partner Copelouzos Group signed contracts with the Hellenic Republic Asset Development Fund for the 40-year concessions to operate, manage, develop and maintain 14 regional airports in Greece. The transaction closing is expected d...

Year in Review: 25 most memorable moments of 2015

The year saw airline disasters caused by human frailty and terrorism but also celebrated some milestone industry moments, with Airbus and Boeing initiating unprecedented production rate rises, China and Japan stepping onto the world stage and Lockheed Martin and Dassault breakingfighter barrier...


Boeing, China Postal Airlines Announce Purchase of 10 Next-Generation 737 Boeing Converted Freighters

Boeing today announced an agreement with China Postal Airlines for 10 Next-Generation 737 Boeing Converted Freighters (BCFs), pending a program launch. Through its converted freighter programs, Boeing extends the valuable service life of a passenger airplane by modifying it to function as a freighter. "This is a historic order both for China Postal and Boeing," said&n...

Boeing still backing stalled CHAMP and UAV projects

Despite all the hype surrounding the high-power microwave energy weapon known as CHAMP, interest in the computer-frying device assembled and tested by Boeing Phantom Works and the US Air Force Research Laboratory appears stalled. “There was a lot of activity when we did the demonstration a couple of years ago, and with the budget constraint on the department, they’ve been unable to...

ANALYSIS: Why there was more to the HS Trident than just a lot of noise

The introduction of ICAO Annex 16 Chapter 2 noise legislation on 1 January 1986 forced operators of older first- and second-generation jets to hush kit their fleets. For British Airways, this was not a viable option for its fleet of Hawker Siddeley HS 121 Tridents – not that it needed an excuse to phase out these fuel-thirsty geriatric jets. The Trident’s engine configuration &...

Wanfeng Aviation takes delivery of China's first Phenom 100

Embraer has delivered the first Phenom 100 to China, following the handover of an entry-level jet on 14 December, to Wanfeng Aviation. The six-seat Phenom 100E – the latest iteration of the ten-year-old twinjet – will be used by the Zhejiang-based company as corporate transport for its parent Wanfeng Auto Holding and for charter services in the country. “It’s a great...

Gulfstream delivers G650ER to Qatar Airways

Gulfstream Aerospace Corp. formally delivered a Gulfstream G650ER to Qatar Airways in a ceremony at Gulfstream’s headquarters in Savannah. The delivery is the first of up to 30 Gulfstream aircraft Qatar Airways has agreed to purchase. The sale, a combination of firm orders and options, includes the flagship G650ER as well as the G500 and G600, Gulfstream’s new clean-sheet, wide-cabi...

John Ratzenberger to Host Elite Aviation Products' Second Annual Aerospace & Defense Symposium

Elite Aviation Products, an advanced design, engineering, and manufacturing company within the aerospace industry, will host their second annual Aerospace & Defense Symposium at the Lyon Air Museum in Santa Ana, California. The event will include a wide variety of guests from original equipment manufacturers, financial institutions, industry leaders, media and elected officials.  ...

UAE to Miami business class with British Airways – review

With no Middle East airlines flying direct to Miami, British Airways has stepped in with a new route from the UAE to the Florida city via London Heathrow. Travelling with a Club World business class ticket on the leg from London to Miami, the relaxation began in BA’s Heathrow lounge with a complimentary massage followed by a light snack – a classic British breakfast sandwich. On...

Air NZ installs “world first” self-service bag drop at Auckland International

Air New Zealand will allow international passengers travelling from Auckland the option of checking in their own bag in what the airline describes as a world first. The self-service bag drop kiosks read biometric data stored on passports using technology similar to the SmartGate passport control gates, with a camera to verify the passenger’s identity. Once the passenger&rsq...

Zodiac’s lower deck patent asks more questions than it answers

Zodiac Aerospace is exploring the opportunity of seating passengers underneath the main deck of commercial aircraft, in the area currently occupied by baggage and the occasional crew rest, catering trolley stowage, or downstairs lavatory area. The interiors powerhouse has applied for a paternt a wide range of methods to enable lower deck seating on passenger aircraft unearthed by Philip Ro...

Happy Passengers May Make a Difference to Airline Performance After All

During yesterday’s International Air Transport Association (IATA) Media Day in Geneva, IATA Director of Marketing and Sales Tim-Jasper Schaaf presented new data points which cast a new light on the importance of happy passengers. The update came as a result of our previous report that IATA found no direct correlation between satisfied passengers and profitable airlines during a previ...

Study: It’s Only a Matter of Time Until a Drone Hits a U.S. Airliner

A new report on drone sightings and close encounters with aircraft finds that the proliferation of drones is quickly creating an unsafe environment in the air above U.S. airports. The Center for the Study of the Drone at Bard College collected data from 931 incidents involving drones and manned aircraft in U.S. airspace from Dec. 17, 2013, to Sept. 12, 2015. A close encounter is defined by the...

Performance of Chinese Airlines Impressive Amid Positive Growth Outlook: IATA Head

Speaking at the International Air Transport Association's (IATA) Global Media Day on Thursday, IATA head Tony Tylor lauded the performance of Chinese airlines in recent years amid positive long-term prospects for the global airline industry. "Now the safety record (in China) is as good as anywhere else in the world. The reason that they've achieved it is that they've follo...

Upcoming events

Bahrain International Airshow 2026

18/11/2026 - 20/11/2026
Bahrain, Sakhir

AERO Middle East x Sand & Fun 2026

24/11/2026 - 26/11/2026
Saudi Arabia, Riyadh

Top of the week

Riga Airport seeks strategic investors for new aircraft maintenance centre

RIX Riga Airport has launched a tender process to attract investors for the development of new aircraft maintenance, repair and overhaul facilities, advancing its ambitions to become a major avia...

Greece orders up to six Embraer KC-390 Millennium multi-mission aircraft

The Hellenic Ministry of National Defense has signed an agreement for the acquisition of three Embraer KC-390 Millennium multi-mission aircraft, with options for three additional units. The deal was c...

New IADA-ASA partnership enhances aircraft appraisal education across the industry

The International Aircraft Dealers Association (IADA) and the American Society of Appraisers (ASA) have formed a new educational partnership aimed at expanding professional develop...

Rolls-Royce launches transformational jet engine technology programme to drive economic growth and advanced manufacturing

The UK Government and Rolls-Royce have unveiled plans for a joint £2.5 billion, 10-year research and technology programme aimed at advancing next-generation gas turbine technologies fo...

Emirates expands Premium Economy to Durban with deployment of A350

Emirates will introduce its Airbus A350 on the daily EK775/776 service between Dubai and Durban from 1 March 2027, extending its Premium Economy offering to all three of its South African destina...

Unifi Aviation brings professional aircraft cleaning and detailing services to Jersey

Unifi Aviation, part of Unifi LLC, has strengthened its presence in Europe with the launch of Unifi Aviation Jersey, bringing premium aircraft detailing and cleaning services to business aviation...

De Havilland Canada expands Canadair 515 production following strategic agreement

De Havilland Canada has announced a landmark agreement with the Government of Canada and Export Development Canada (EDC) that will enable the manufacturer to significantly expand p...

Boeing predicts air cargo boom will push global freighter fleet beyond 4,000 aircraft by 2045

Boeing forecasts that global air cargo traffic will double over the next two decades, driving the worldwide freighter fleet beyond 4,000 aircraft by 2045, according to its 2026 World Air Car...

Boeing and Lufthansa Technik extend strategic tailored parts agreement

Boeing and Lufthansa Technik have extended their long-standing Tailored Parts Package agreement, reinforcing a partnership aimed at enhancing parts availability, simplifying supply...

Joby brings future air mobility to Florida with eVTOL air taxi demonstration

Joby Aviation has launched a week-long series of piloted electric air taxi demonstration flights across Florida, with its eVTOL aircraft operating in Tampa, Orlando, and along the Space Coast. Th...

Airbus Corporate Jets research reveals growing government demand for business aviation

  According to Airbus Corporate Jets’ latest industry insight, based on feedback from 280 business aviation financiers and brokers globally, governments and public sector organisations a...

MEBAA Show 2026 highlights growing demand for inflight connectivity as business aviation priorities evolve

As demand for seamless onboard connectivity continues to grow, aircraft owners and operators are placing increasing emphasis on selecting connectivity solutions that align with their operational needs...

Qantas Group strengthens regional network with strategic turboprop fleet investment

  Qantas has announced a major investment in its De Havilland Dash 8 turboprop fleet, reinforcing its long-term commitment to maintaining reliable air links across regional Australia. As part...

Daher highlights growing role of Kodiak and TBM Aircraft in wildfire response operations

From the forests of Canada and the Pacific Northwest to the fire-prone landscapes of Florida, Daher Aircraft’s Kodiak and TBM platforms are playing an increasingly critical role in wildfire resp...

Jet Excellence upgrades Citation X fleet with Gogo Galileo HDX connectivity

Jet Excellence, a leading U.S. charter operator, will retrofit its entire fleet of Cessna Citation X aircraft with the advanced Gogo Galileo HDX connectivity solution. To support the fleet-w...

Embraer and Austrian Airlines strengthen E-Jets fleet support with new component pool agreement

Embraer and Austrian Airlines have signed a Component Pool Program agreement to support the carrier’s fleet of 13 E195 aircraft. Under the agreement, Austrian Airlines will gain access to Embrae...

Archer and ITA Airways drive forward vision for sustainable air taxi travel in Italy

Archer Aviation Inc. and ITA Airways, Italy’s national carrier and a member of the Lufthansa Group, have entered into a strategic partnership to advance the deployment of an all-e...

Boston MedFlight expands critical care air transport fleet with order for three Airbus H145 helicopters

Boston MedFlight, the internationally recognized nonprofit provider of critical care transport services, has signed an agreement with Airbus Helicopters for three new H145 helicopt...

Airbus and Air France-KLM finalize joint venture for A350 component support

Airbus has launched Alpha Component Solutions, a 50:50 joint venture with Air France dedicated to delivering comprehensive A350 component support services. Jointly operated by Airbus and Air Fran...

Embraer appoints FL Technics as authorized E-Jet service center in Lithuania

Embraer has appointed FL Technics as an Embraer Authorized Service Center (EASC) for its commercial aircraft fleet in Lithuania. The designation covers the E170 and E190 aircraft, further strengt...

ALSIM and ADMAL Flying Academy reinforce pilot training excellence in Malaysia with AL250 simulator

ALSIM is supporting the advancement of pilot training in Malaysia through ADMAL Flying Academy’s acquisition of an AL250 simulator. The addition of the device will enhance the academy’s Co...

FL Technics Indonesia secures EASA approval for Bali hangar, expanding European fleet maintenance capabilities

FL Technics Indonesia has successfully obtained EASA Part-145 certification for its Bali maintenance facility, authorising the company to perform maintenance on aircraft registered within the European...

The best (and cheapest) ways to buy Avios points

What’s the point of buying Avios? You might think that Avios points are the frequent flyer currency of British Airways, and you’re not wrong. The airline launched the currency back in t...

HALO-Flight expands Texas Air Med fleet with additional Bell 407GXi helicopter order

HALO-Flight is set to further expand its South Texas air medical capabilities following the order of an additional Bell 407GXi announced by Bell Textron at AMTC 2026. The new aircraft will bring the o...

Western Aircraft marks dual Pilatus milestones with 300th PC-12 delivery and 30 years of authorized sales & service excellence

Western Aircraft, an Authorized Pilatus Center and Greenwich AeroGroup company, is celebrating a trio of significant achievements in 2026 that underscore its enduring partnership with Pilatus. The mil...