The Airbus A350F freighter (MSN 700), the first of two flight test aircraft, has successfully completed its maiden flight. Equipped with dedicated flight test instrumentation, the aircraft spent 4 hours and 10 minutes in the air, reaching an altitude of 25,000 feet. The flight was conducted by Airbus' specialized Flight Test crew. Meanwhile, the second A350F prototype (MSN 701) is progressing...
A new era for German aerospace began today as Deutsche Aircraft officially opened its Final Assembly Line (FAL) at Leipzig/Halle Airport. Joined by senior government representatives Christian Hirte and Dirk Panter, the company marked the start of a new chapter in regional aircraft manufacturing. The inauguration represents the transition of the D328eco® programme into serial production and est...
As Dubai prepares for another vibrant winter season, Emirates is inviting travellers from across its global network to discover the city with unparalleled comfort, convenience and exceptional value. Launching alongside Dubai’s exciting calendar of festivals, entertainment and world-class event...
Tanis Aircraft Products, a division of Hartzell Propeller, has expanded its portfolio of aircraft preheating solutions with the approval of a Supplemental Type Certificate (STC) covering the entire Daher TBM 700 series. The certification is complemented by Parts Manufacturer Approval (PMA) for the c...
EHang has announced the expansion of its Global Fast Track Program to Vietnam, making it the second country to join the initiative after Sri Lanka. The program’s launch in Hanoi also marks EHang’s first city-level partnership in Vietnam. As part of the initiative, EHang’s loca...
VINCI Airports has announced a landmark £500 million investment programme for Edinburgh Airport over the next five years, marking the largest investment in the airport's history. The initiative underscores the long-term commitment of VINCI Airports and its co-shareholder Global Infrastruct...
The business aviation landscape is evolving rapidly. Client expectations are shifting, demand for unique travel experiences is on the rise, and aircraft acquisitions remain resilient despite geopolitical uncertainty and a challenging economic environment. Against this backdrop, George Galanopoulos,...
TFC Flight Training has become the first flight school in Germany to operate the Pipistrel Explorer following the delivery of two aircraft from Pipistrel, a Textron Inc. company and affiliate of Textron Aviation. The acquisition deepens the long-standing relationship between the organizations while...
Boeing and Biman Bangladesh Airlines announced the national carrier placed an order for 11 787 Dreamliner and 737 MAX airplanes to grow and renew its fleet. The purchase, which includes five 787-10 and six 737-8 jets, builds on the airline's largest‑ever order for 14 787 Dreamliner and 737...
Airbus A350F freighter successfully performs its maiden flight
German aviation reaches new milestone as Deutsche Aircraft opens D328eco® Final Assembly Line
Navigating change: Luxaviation UK's George Galanopoulos on growth, innovation and resilience
RAF 2026 - RTU opens new pathways for European aerospace collaboration
Heart Aerospace unveils ES-36, announces JSX purchase agreement for up to 100 aircraft
PC-12 PRO receives Safety Autoland certification
40 years, 40 aircraft: Piaggio Aerospace celebrates a landmark double achievement
Beyond operations: the global role of FBOs — interview with Evgeny Shadov, General Aviation Service
Qantas advances Project Sunrise with landmark non-stop Australia-New York service
Ten years of growth, expertise and excellence at Dassault Falcon Service Mérignac
Electra demonstrates revolutionary airport operations with Ultra-Short Takeoff aircraft using helicopter-style procedures
Airbus Corporate Jets survey points to a new wave of demand for large business aircraft in Asia
TFC Flight Training has become the first flight school in Germany to operate the Pipistrel Explorer following the delivery of two aircraft from Pipistrel, a Textron Inc. company and affiliate of Textron Aviation. The acquisition deepens the long-standing relationship between the organizations while enhancing TFC's ability to provide a seamless training pathway from ab initio instruction throug...
The Saskatchewan Indian Institute of Technologies (SIIT) and Boeing today celebrated the expansion of the Saskatchewan Aviation Learning Centre (SALC), marking a new chapter in their partnership to support Indigenous talent, enhance aerospace training, and inspire future careers in aviation across Saskatchewan. The expansion of SALC strengthens Saskatchewan's capacity to train the next ge...
TARMAC Aerosave, Europe’s leading provider of aircraft storage, maintenance and recycling services, announced today at MRO Asia-Pacific 2026 that it has received approval (IND.FAMO.0000000129) from India’s Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA). The certification covers the entire...
flydubai has strengthened its pilot development strategy through new partnerships with Egnatia Aviation and Skyborne Airline Academy, aimed at expanding the airline's training capacity and supporting its Ab Initio Pilot Training Programme. The training providers will oversee flight instruction f...
ALSIM has announced that MH Cockpit, based in India, has acquired an AL250 simulator—marking a significant step in MH Cockpit’s expansion plans and reinforcing its ambition to build a robust aviation education and training ecosystem both within India and internationally. The AL250 s...
Uzbekistan Airways and Lufthansa Technik have renewed their cooperation with a long‑term agreement extending comprehensive component support for the airline’s Boeing 787 Dreamliner and Airbus A320ceo/neo fleets through 2035. The contract reinforces a partnership that has already delivered more...
A new era for German aerospace began today as Deutsche Aircraft officially opened its Final Assembly Line (FAL) at Leipzig/Halle Airport. Joined by senior government representatives Christian Hirte and Dirk Panter, the company marked the start of a new chapter in regional aircraft manufacturing. The inauguration represents the transition of the D328eco® programme into serial production and est...
Tanis Aircraft Products, a division of Hartzell Propeller, has expanded its portfolio of aircraft preheating solutions with the approval of a Supplemental Type Certificate (STC) covering the entire Daher TBM 700 series. The certification is complemented by Parts Manufacturer Approval (PMA) for the complete system kit, providing operators with a fully approved installation solution. Designed to...
EHang has announced the expansion of its Global Fast Track Program to Vietnam, making it the second country to join the initiative after Sri Lanka. The program’s launch in Hanoi also marks EHang’s first city-level partnership in Vietnam. As part of the initiative, EHang’s loca...
Boeing and Biman Bangladesh Airlines announced the national carrier placed an order for 11 787 Dreamliner and 737 MAX airplanes to grow and renew its fleet. The purchase, which includes five 787-10 and six 737-8 jets, builds on the airline's largest‑ever order for 14 787 Dreamliner and 737...
Vertical Aerospace has unveiled a new Aircraft Assembly Centre at Cotswold Airport, reinforcing its transition from aircraft development and testing to certification and early-stage production of its Valo eVTOL aircraft. Opened on National Manufacturing Day in the UK, the facility fulfills a previou...
Bye Aerospace’s eFlyer 2 has completed its first flight powered by magniX’s Samson300 battery system, marking a significant step forward for electric flight training technology. Departing from Centennial Airport in Colorado, the milestone flight demonstrated the capabilities of magniX&rs...
Progressive. Proven. Professional. The all-new PC-12 PRO introduces a completely redesigned cockpit built around the Garmin G3000 PRIME Integrated Flight Deck. Equipped with advanced technologies, including Safety Autoland, the PC-12 PRO sets a new benchmark as the most technologically advanced, high-performing, and reliable aircraft in its class. Further reinforcing its leadership in safety,...
Aviation evolves through moments of clarity — moments when industry leaders step forward to explain not only what is happening, but why it matters. This conversation with Evgeny Shadov, VP Business Development at General Aviation Service, is one of those moments. In the dynamic environment of Riga Aviation Forum 2026, Evgeny brings a sharp, operationally grounded perspective on th...
Textron Aviation has reached a significant production milestone with the rollout of the 500th Cessna Citation Latitude from its Wichita, Kansas, facility. The achievement reflects the enduring popularity of the industry's best-selling midsize business jet and recognizes the employees whose craft...
Located alongside Dassault Aviation’s flagship manufacturing facility, Dassault Falcon Service Mérignac is celebrating a decade of dedicated support to Falcon operators around the world. Since opening in 2016, the six-bay maintenance center, staffed by 70 highly skilled employees, has c...
Confidence in Asia's business aviation market is on the rise, according to new research commissioned by Airbus Corporate Jets (ACJ). Industry experts expect demand for business aircraft to grow steadily throughout the remainder of the decade, with large-cabin jets emerging as the strongest-perfo...
KlasJet has achieved a significant milestone by obtaining Part 129 Operations Specifications (OpSpecs) approval from the FAA, paving the way for the company's expansion into the U.S. market. As part of Avia Solutions Group, the world's largest ACMI provider, KlasJet can now conduct charter a...
flydubai has expanded its Nepal network with the launch of daily direct flights between Dubai and Pokhara, marking the first-ever non-stop service linking Dubai with western Nepal. The new route makes Pokhara flydubai’s second destination in Nepal and strengthens access to one of the country's most popular tourism regions, known as the gateway to the Annapurna mountain range. The service...
Collins Aerospace has been selected by Royal Brunei Airlines to provide its FlightSense™ and DispatchSM services under two 12-year agreements supporting the carrier’s current and future Boeing 787 fleet. The long-term partnership is designed to enhance operational performance, increase fleet reliability and streamline maintenance planning ac...
New Caledonia's flagship carrier, Aircalin, has selected Airbus Flight Hour Services (FHS) to support its incoming fleet of Airbus A350-900 aircraft. The airline currently has two of the latest-generation long-range widebody aircraft on order, with the first scheduled for delivery...
Boeing and Malaysia Airlines have renewed their Integrated Materials Management (IMM) services agreement for five years, the companies announced at MRO Asia-Pacific in Singapore. The renewed partnership will continue to support the carrier’s maintenance activities and materials planning proces...
Qantas has announced it will launch the first-ever non-stop commercial flights between Sydney and New York from mid-2028, marking a major milestone for its landmark Project Sunrise initiative. Tickets for the inaugural service are expected to go on sale in August 2027, ahead of the route's...
Air France was among the leading winners at the Skytrax World Airline Awards, held in London on September 18, 2026, earning multiple distinctions that highlight the excellence of its products and customer experience. Most notably, the airline’s La Première suite, introduced in 2025, was...
Ampaire has closed a $19 million Series B round led by DiamondStream Partners, bringing its total funding to $68 million. This includes roughly $25 million in non‑dilutive grants and contracts that have supported the development and real‑world demonstration of its hybrid‑electric technologies and aircraft programs. Kevin Noertker, co-founder and CEO of Ampaire, commented: “This finan...
TravelX announced that Kaszek, Latin America's leading venture capital firm, made a substantial investment in its platform, bringing the company's total funding to $45 million. The investment marks Kaszek's first foray into the aviation technology space, reflecting its conviction that artificial intelligence is creating an entirely new category of revenue management solutions, one...
Air France-KLM today has submitted a binding offer to Parpública for the acquisition of a 44.9% to 49.9% stake in TAP Air Portugal, marking a decisive step in the airline’s privatization process. This offer takes the form of a comprehensive strategic p...
GetJet has secured $31 million in external financing from London-based volofin Capital Management Ltd. The capital injection accelerates the GetJet Group Growth Strategy 2026, focused on fleet expansion and the scaling of aviation asset management capabilities. The funding facilitates the acqui...
ACIA Aero Leasing announced the delivery of an ATR 72-600 passenger aircraft on lease to Chingis Airlines Unity in Mongolia. Chingis Airlines Unity are owned by the NOMIN Group, one of Mongolia’s largest and most diversified private companies. Founded in 1992 the NOMIN Group has grown into a m...
Every industry faces disruption. In aviation, volatility is constant—shifting demand patterns, rising operational costs, evolving passenger expectations, and intensifying competition. The differentiator is not whether challenges exist, but how effectively they are converted into strategic adva...
As the 10th edition of the Riga Aviation Forum was getting ready to open, 50SkyShades — a long‑standing Media Partner of the event — took the opportunity to sit down with Zigmars Vestfals, CEO of the Latvian Aviation Association, just hours before the official kick‑off. Marking a decade of strategic dialogue and industry collaboration, Zigmars Vestfals reflects on how the Forum bega...
The leading aviation industry conference in the Baltic region, the Riga Aviation Forum, will bring together top-level aviation leaders, policymakers, experts, and business executives from the Baltics, the Nordics, and across Europe on 10 September 2026 at Hanzas Perons in Riga. Participants will discuss the future of aviation and related industries, and their role in driving regiona...
Riga Aviation Forum (RAF), the largest Baltics’ flagship high‑level aviation business conference, will take place on 10 September 2026 in Riga, Latvia as a gathering point for Europe’s aviation leaders, policymakers, industry innovators, and academic experts. Since its establishment...
Registration has opened for EUROPEAN ROTORS 2026, which takes place 30 Nov. – 3 Dec. at EUREXPO Lyon in Lyon, France. As Europe’s leading event for the vertical aviation industry, EUROPEAN ROTORS 2026 will bring together operators, manufacturers, regulators, suppliers, training orga...
The future of aviation technology will be highlighted on July 21 as EAA AirVenture Oshkosh continues its annual tradition of featuring the latest innovations as part of displays on Boeing Plaza and demonstrations during the Tuesday air show. The 73rd annual Experimental Aircraft Association fly-in c...
Tuvoli, building the backbone of private aviation, today announced the launch of the first annual AI Symposium for Business Aviation (AISBA), co-founded with the National Air Transportation Association and Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University’s O’Maley College of Business. AISB...
February 7, 2022 was the 116th anniversary of birthday of Oleg Antonov, a great aircraft designer, talented scientist, founder of ANTONOV COMPANY. His life was devoted to aviation. He designed 22 types of airplanes and 52 types of gliders, including the legendary AN-2, AN-22 and AN-124, made a great contribution into development of dozens of other aircraft, founded original desi...
On Tuesday 14 September 2021, H.S.H Prince Albert II of Monaco became the first Head of State to fly in an electric plane when he joined eco-explorer and pilot, Raphaël Domjan, for a flight out of Nice-Côte d’Azur airport onboard a Pipistrel Velis. The Monegasque monarch enjoyed a 30-minute CO2 emission and noise free flight over the Principality. On Tuesday 14 September 2021, H.S....
Ernst & Young LLP that Glenn Gonzales and Vishal Hiremath, co-founders of Jet It and JetClub were named Entrepreneur Of The Year® 2021 Southeast Award winners. The Entrepreneur Of The Year Awards program is one of the preeminent competitive awards for entrepreneurs and leaders...
The American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics (AIAA) announced that Michimasa Fujino, lead HondaJet designer and President and CEO of Honda Aircraft Company, will receive the 2021 Reed Aeronautics Award "for the invention of advanced aerodynamic and structural techniques.&quo...
Vertical Aerospace announces the appointment of Richard Alexander, formerly Chief Flight Dynamics Integrator on the Mitsubishi M100 Regional Jet and Head of Flight Sciences at Bombardier Aerospace, as Head of Flight Physics to help Vertical move towards their vision of electric fight for everyo...
ICON Aircraft, maker of the revolutionary ICON A5 Light Sport Aircraft, has named Jason Huang as President. In that role, Huang will oversee all business functions, with a particular focus on maintaining manufacturing excellence, product development and innovation, and providing an ownership experie...
Riga Airport is taking the next step in the development of RIX Airport City by launching, on 22 September, the qualification stage of an international competitive dialogue to select a development partner for a new hotel and office complex on the Airport’s territory. Envisioned as a cornerstone of the first phase of the RIX Airport City project, the hotel and office development is schedule...
The Star Alliance Lounge at Paris Charles de Gaulle Airport has been named the World’s Best Airline Alliance Lounge at the 2026 Skytrax World Airline Awards, securing the prestigious title for a third consecutive year. Further highlighting the alliance’s leadership in premium ground services, the Star Alliance Lounge at Los Angeles International Airport earned second place, giving Star...
Baltic Ground Services (BGS), a global provider of ground handling and aircraft fueling services, has initiated cooperation with Airest, taking over into‑plane fueling operations at Kaunas (KUN) and Riga (RIX) airports. The services are performed by BGS in Kaunas and by Gulfstream Oil (GSO), part of...
Aviator Airport Alliance signed a four-year contract with Lufthansa Group to provide full ground handling services at Gothenburg-Landvetter Airport (GOT). The agreement covers five of the group’s carriers – Lufthansa Airlines, Lufthansa City Airlines, Austrian Airlines, Brussels Air...
The Metropolitan Washington Airports Authority, United Airlines and the U.S. Department of Transportation announced a landmark transformation for Washington Dulles International Airport with a capital investment program of more than $20 billion. The project will transform the airport over the next d...
The Civil Aviation Authority of Singapore has awarded Thales a landmark contract to develop a new NexGen Air Traffic Management System (ATMS) and air traffic control radars, marking a major step towards a more efficient, safer and more sustainable aviation ecosystem. The NexGen ATMS will replace the...
