Aircraft & Propulsion

Six months on from the start of the Iran war, Flight Friday reviews the impact of the conflict on Middle Eastern operators.

Lufthansa's ambitious restructuring program based on fleet renewal, AOC reduction and higher productivity targets faces setbacks.

GlobalX leaders say the addition of younger Airbus A320s should reduce maintenance disruptions.

Norse Atlantic is in discussions with several airlines over ACMI placements for up to five Boeing 787-9s returning from IndiGo.

Air China has completed its first sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) uplift under the “Changping Model,” a full-chain closed-loop system designed to produce, supply and account for SAF within Beijing's Changping district.

SpiceJet settles one of eight legal disputes with lessors as India’s NCLT postpones rulings on the remaining cases.

Airbus begins expanding its Belfast A220 wing facility to support production ramp-up to 13 aircraft per month by 2028, adding new infrastructure and jobs.

Austrian aerospace supplier FACC AG expects revenue growth of between 10% and 15% for the full year and annual revenue of more than €1 billion.

The FAA’s initiative to showcase advanced air mobility (AAM) is gathering pace, with Electra.aero demonstrating hybrid-electric flights connecting small local airports to major airline hubs.

Thermal runaway incidents caused by portable chargers on passenger flights rose by a staggering 42% in 2025, overtaking e-cigarettes as the leading cause, according to the ULSE's latest full-year report.

New contenders are emerging to vie for the outsize cargo market as the current fleet continues to age and shrink.

The Carbon Analysis assesses the effect that Azul’s expanding E2 fleet has had on emissions, as well as analyzing the airline's wider fleet strategy over the past four years.

Boeing has patented a new overwing strut concept that would allow either a ducted or unducted engine to be attached to a common wing.

UK regional carrier Loganair is to close two of its bases and cut routes, as part of what the company calls a “wider strategic update.”

For the first time in four years, all of Azul’s Embraer 195-E2s are in operation now that issues with the Pratt & Whitney geared turbofan engines powering those aircraft are resolved.

Fast-growing Indian LCC Akasa Air has signed a sale and leaseback deal with lessor Avolon Holdings for up to seven Boeing 737-8-200s.

While the accident sequence is similar to two other CFM56-7B failures, an NTSB preliminary report suggests the July 10 Malta Air fan blade out event was caused by a bird strike, not a latent blade crack.

Operators of Rolls-Royce-powered Boeing 787s will have four years to replace certain fan cowl parts to ensure the engines are protected from debris in the rare case of a serious engine failure, a new FAA draft rule said.

Airbus and Boeing’s combined commercial narrowbody aircraft deliveries reached 100 units in July 2026—24 aircraft below June’s total and four units above July 2025.

Heart Aerospace completes first flight of X1, a full-scale electric demonstrator, validating key technologies for its hybrid-electric ES-30.

While the surge in fuel costs has tipped Philippine Airlines (PAL) into the red in the first half of 2026, the carrier said its long-term business strategy remains on track.

Rising engine costs have driven Brazilian carrier Gol to seek government financing for engine shop visits.

Thai Airways has remained profitable in the second quarter of 2026 despite rising fuel costs that placed pressure on the flag carrier's financial performance.

The goal of the test campaign was to see if a duct lined with a new Boeing acoustic treatment could maintain noise parity with the current 787 design while achieving up to 0.5% better fuel efficiency.

Airbus and Boeing’s combined commercial aircraft gross order total for July 2026 reached 241 units. Airbus secured orders for 204 aircraft, while Boeing received orders for 37.