Airbus forecasts demand for 2,670 freighters through 2045
Airbus forecasts demand for 2,670 freighters worldwide through 2045, of which 970 would be newly built aircraft. North America and Asia-Pacific are expected to make up most of that demand.
October 21, 2026
China readies first commercial resupply craft, first booster reflight, and next landing attempt
China is preparing its first commercial cargo resupply spacecraft, its first reuse of a rocket booster, and another booster landing attempt as it pushes toward reusable launchers amid a rising launch rate.
First M-346 For Frecce Tricolori Breaks Cover
The first Leonardo M-346 trainer earmarked for the Italian Air Force's Frecce Tricolori display team has been seen in its team livery at the company's Venegono plant following its factory rollout.
Bigger Than a Cessna, Smaller Than a C-130: Air Force Funds Blended-Wing Body Concept
The US Air Force is putting $3.5 million toward a blended-wing body cargo aircraft concept sized between a Cessna and a C-130, aimed at 'sub-tactical' airlift for dispersed operations across the Indo-Pacific.
Contour to Take Over Service at PA Airport
Regional carrier Contour Airlines is set to become the new air service provider at a Pennsylvania airport, with its new routes scheduled to begin in February 2027.
Space Force Needs Third Launch Range by 2030, Acquisition Leader Says
A senior Space Force acquisition official says the service should have a third spaceport capable of medium and heavy launches by 2030, calling the target aspirational while emphasizing the need to expand military launch infrastructure.
Two from Wellington
Spotter Allister Jenks photographed GCH Aviation's 1988-built MBB-BK117 B-2 helicopter ZK-HMR at Wellington's Queens Wharf, along with Capital Aviation's Robin R2160 ZK-TZF at Wellington International Airport.
Industry leaders urge Ottawa to accelerate funding for Canadian space sovereignty
At Space Canada's SpaceBound conference, industry speakers said Canada's push for sovereign space capabilities is moving too slowly and is underfunded. They called on Ottawa to speed up investment and offered to help build the capabilities.
Textron Rolls Out First Citation CJ4 Gen3 Production Unit
Textron Aviation has completed the first production Citation CJ4 Gen3 business jet. The aircraft's launch customer, aviation enthusiast Ryan Samples, was named by the company in 2024.
Cirrus Vision Jet Marks 10 Years
Cirrus Aircraft is celebrating ten years since its single-engine Vision Jet entered service, with deliveries of the personal jet now topping 800 units.
RTX’s Booming Defense Segment Lifts All Ships
RTX logged more than $59 billion in new awards in Q3 2026, driven by its defence business. Roughly $37 billion came from Tomahawk and AMRAAM missiles, with SM-6 and SM-3 Block IB interceptors adding to the total.
Amazon Targets Mid-November Tallahassee Drones. A Permit Is Pending
Amazon plans to launch Prime Air drone deliveries in Tallahassee around mid-November, though a permit for the facility that will house the drones on site has yet to be approved.
American Airlines 787 suffers tyre failure after landing at Chicago O’Hare
An American Airlines Boeing 787-8 (N806AA), flying AA41 from Barcelona, had a tyre failure after landing at Chicago O'Hare on 20 October after the crew reported a brake problem. None of the 234 passengers or 11 crew were hurt.
Wing and Walmart Now Fly Drones From 7 Charlotte Stores, 2 More Due
Wing's drone delivery partnership with Walmart now operates from seven Supercenters serving 10 towns around Charlotte, with orders limited to 2.5 pounds and two additional stores set to join.
NordSpace gets $20 million DND deal for standby launch pad at Atlantic Spaceport Complex
Canada's Department of National Defence will pay NordSpace $20 million over ten years to keep a launch pad on standby for military use at its Atlantic Spaceport Complex in Newfoundland. Defence Minister David McGuinty announced the deal at Space Canada's SpaceBound conference.
Bombardier Expanding in America, Creating Thousands of Jobs, Combined Within Its Network and Throughout the Supply Chain
Bombardier has announced an expansion of its US operations, which it says will create thousands of jobs across its own facilities and its American supplier base.
British forces board German warship by air and sea
During Exercise Strike Warrior, Royal Marines boarded the German Navy flagship FGS Berlin from two directions. One team fast-roped down from a Merlin helicopter while a second climbed aboard from a rigid inflatable boat.
Norwegian adds four routes from Oslo, Copenhagen and Billund for 2027
Norwegian plans four new European routes for 2027: Oslo and Copenhagen to Seville, Copenhagen to Santiago de Compostela, and Billund to Manchester. The Seville flights will run twice a week in spring and autumn and pause over peak summer.
NASA JPL Looks to Next 90 Years of Innovation, Exploration
NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory marks 90 years since Caltech students ran its first rocket-engine tests in Pasadena in 1936. The lab is also looking ahead to future work such as interstellar probes, lunar drones and further Mars rotorcraft.
Qatar Airways to launch Western Sydney flights in December 2027
Qatar Airways will start three weekly Doha flights to Western Sydney International Airport on 15 December 2027, giving it a second Sydney gateway. Sales open 19 December 2026, and the carrier aims to build up to daily service.
British Airways launches Avios-Only flights to Majorca and Crete for summer 2027 holidays
British Airways will operate special summer 2027 flights to Majorca and Crete on which all seats can only be booked using Avios points, expanding its loyalty-focused Mediterranean holiday offering.
El Al Launches New Safety Videos Featuring Advanced, First-of-Its-Kind Technology Starring Gal Gadot, Rotem Sela, Deni Avdija and Lior Raz
El Al is retiring its long-running safety video featuring mentalist Lior Suchard in favour of a new series using novel production technology and starring Gal Gadot, Rotem Sela, Lior Raz and NBA player Deni Avdija.
Navy F/A-18 Super Hornet Spotted Carrying New AIM-174B And AIM-260 Long-Range Missiles Together
A VX-31 test squadron F/A-18 Super Hornet was photographed carrying both the AIM-174B and AIM-260 long-range air-to-air missiles, previewing a future fleet loadout that will also include the AIM-424 Malice.
Minister McGuinty announces strategic advancements for Canada’s sovereign space capabilities
Defence Minister McGuinty unveiled new steps to strengthen Canada's sovereign space capabilities, aiming to build up a competitive domestic space industry.
British drone downs attack drones with guided rockets
In a Florida trial, a modified Malloy Aeronautics T-150 uncrewed aircraft used laser-guided rockets fired from a three-tube pod to shoot down several one-way attack drones.
San Diego Airport Tops U.S. in Leaded Avgas Sales
San Diego's airport led all U.S. airports in leaded avgas sales, moving over a million gallons across two years even though pilots there could buy unleaded fuel instead.
Liberal and Conservative MPs launch Parliamentary Space Caucus
At Space Canada's SpaceBound conference, Liberal MP Yasir Naqvi and Conservative MP Shuvaloy Majumdar announced a cross-party Parliamentary Space Caucus to advocate for the space sector in Ottawa.
Xona Space Systems Canada Receives $15M for Montréal Centre
Ottawa is contributing $15 million from its Strategic Response Fund toward Xona Space Systems Canada's $64.8 million plan to build a mission operations, development and manufacturing centre for space systems in Montréal.
Satellites underpin almost a fifth of British GDP
Satellite services support about 18% of UK GDP, and the government's new Space Strategy and Defence Investment Plan together allocate £3.2 billion to safeguard the sector and its jobs.
Any Decision To Buy New-Build F-16s Not An “Urgent” Priority: USAF
A senior USAF general said buying newly built F-16s is not an urgent priority and called it possibly the 'lazy' option. It remains on the table as the service works toward 1,509 combat-coded fighters by 2035.