Aviation Week & Space Technology, April 6, 2026 is part of our Aviation Week & Space Technology - Inside MRO and AWIN subscriptions.

Subscribe now to read this content, plus receive full coverage of what's next in technology from the experts trusted by the commercial aircraft MRO community.

Already a subscriber to AWST or an AWIN customer? Log in with your existing email and password.

Subscribe    Log in    
Magazine Issue

Aviation Week & Space Technology, April 6, 2026

VOL. 188 NO. 14 April 06, 2026
Cover of Aviation Week for April 6, 2026

Expanding satellite constellations in low Earth orbit and more advanced seatback displays are helping to transform the airline passenger experience. 

Credit: Panasonic

COMMERCIAL AVIATION

Panasonic Avionics inflight entertainment screens
article

Improved Connectivity Reshapes Airline Passenger Experience

Mar 31, 2026
Starlink and low-Earth-orbit competitors, such as Eutelsat’s Oneweb and Amazon Leo, have shaken the connectivity market with their low-latency internet.
tails of Lufthansa jets
article

Airlines Weigh Iran War’s Fuel Price Impact

Apr 03, 2026
Global airlines consider capacity cuts, increased ticket prices and fuel surcharges to manage the short-term spike and long-term uncertainty caused by the war.
Air Canada CEO Michael Rousseau
article

Will Air Canada CEO Rousseau’s Legacy Be Lost in Translation?

Mar 30, 2026
Air Canada President and CEO Michael Rousseau’s departure occurs at a critical time for the airline.

FIRST TAKE

Korea Aerospace Industries first KF-21 Block 1 production aircraft
article

First Take, April 6, 2026

Apr 03, 2026
Our roundup of the main aerospace and defense stories making the news this week.

SPACE

Artemis II
article

NASA Shelves Gateway To Focus On Moon Base

Apr 03, 2026
The agency wants commercial companies to take on a larger role in its Artemis lunar exploration initiative.
Artemis on the Moon concept
article

Podcast: NASA’s New Moonshot

Mar 31, 2026
The new administrator shakes up the space agency with plans for lunar base and sunsetting SLS.
proposed core International Space Station module
article

NASA Pauses Post-ISS Planning, Proposes Alternative Module

Mar 31, 2026
Plans to offer contracts for a commercial space station are on hold again as NASA pitches a government-owned module.
Artemis mission
article

Artemis Astronauts Lift Off For Orion Spacecraft Checkout

Apr 03, 2026
After 20 years of development, an Orion spacecraft flies with crew for the first time.
NASA Space Reactor-1 Freedom
article

NASA Aims To Demonstrate Nuclear Electric Propulsion In Late 2028

Apr 02, 2026
More than 60 years ago, the U.S. launched its first and so far only nuclear fission reactor into space. NASA aims to change that in 2.5 years.
rocket launching
article

Space Launcher Shortages Are Poised To Persist

Apr 01, 2026
New rockets that were supposed to solve a persistent launcher shortage are falling short amid delays and technical setbacks.
Blue Ghost lunar lander mission
article

Firefly Targets Lunar And Defense Momentum After Alpha Return

Apr 02, 2026
The space company is scaling its lunar plans to match NASA’s new ambitions and returning to a rapid launch cadence.

DEFENSE

Landsat photo of battle damage at Saudi base
article

New Issues Emerge As Iran War Stretches On

Apr 03, 2026
The role of commercial satellites and Russia’s links to Iran are being scrutinized as the war enters its second month.
helicopter launching munition
article

Pentagon Touts Momentum In Push To Bolster U.S. Drone Industry

Mar 30, 2026
New efforts to field drones rapidly include Drone Dominance scrimmages and an easy-to-use portal on which to order UAS.

INTERVIEW

Bill Franke (second from left) reading from paper before news microphones
article

Indigo Partners’ Bill Franke Talks About His Airline Investments

Apr 02, 2026
Influential airline investor Bill Franke talks with Aviation Week about more M&A deals, testing new elements in the ULCC model and where he sees opportunities.

LAUREATES 2026

Laureates group standing on stage
article

Aviation Week Presents 2026 Grand Laureate Award Winners

Apr 03, 2026
Continuing an annual tradition dating back to 1957, Aviation Week Network editors honored a wide variety of industry accomplishments.

TECHNOLOGY

Pulsar exhaust test system
article

The Week In Technology, March 30-April 3, 2026

Mar 30, 2026
Nuclear fusion rocket power; Matrix autonomy joins the Army; ship-to-shore contested logistics; and sulfur’s role in contrails formation.

COLUMNS AND OPINION

JetBlue, Spirit and United aircraft
article

Daily Memo: Are Blue Skies Still Ahead Despite JetBlue Speculation?

Mar 27, 2026
JetBlue merger speculation has resurfaced, but as the carrier proceeds through a multi-year plan for improvement and implements a new airline partnership, would that step be premature?
missile in factory
article

Opinion: The U.S.-Iran Missile Cost-Exchange Calculation Imbalance

Apr 03, 2026
The U.S. is winning the cost-exchange ratio with Iran—but the victory might end up being pyrrhic.

DEPARTMENTS

Orion spacecraft on Space Launch System
article

Letters From Our Readers, April 6, 2026

Apr 03, 2026
Readers write about NASA’s heat shield for Orion, medical certification for flying, gender distribution in the 20 Twenties and high-energy laser hype cycles.
article

New Positions, Promotions, Honors And Elections, April 6, 2026

Apr 03, 2026
Recent appointments, promotions and honors in the aviation and aerospace industry.
article

Aviation Week Events, April 6, 2026

Apr 03, 2026
A roundup of upcoming conferences and exhibitions.