National Airlines has committed to purchasing one GE90-110B and six CF6-80C2 engines from GE Aerospace to support its expanding widebody freighter fleet. The agreement, announced on July 23, 2026, during the Farnborough International Airshow, deepens the cargo carrier’s reliance on GE propulsion systems as it scales its long-haul operations.

In a press release issued by GE Aerospace, the manufacturers confirmed the order will power National Airlines’ growing fleet of Boeing 777-200F and Boeing 747-400F Commercial-Aircraft. Financial terms of the transaction were not disclosed. The acquisition builds upon the carrier’s existing inventory of 30 CF6 and eight GE90 engines.

Fleet capacity and operational integration

The engine order aligns with National Airlines’ recent capacity growth. The carrier has actively expanded its long-haul Cargo-Aircraft capabilities throughout 2026, taking Delivery of its first Boeing 777-200F in April 2026. A second Boeing 777-200F, registered as N792CA, arrived directly from The Boeing Company’s Everett facility on May 26, 2026.

This fleet expansion directly drives the requirement for additional GE90 engines, which serve as the exclusive powerplant for all Boeing 777 Freighter models. National Airlines currently operates four Boeing 777-200F aircraft and nine Boeing 747-400F aircraft.

“Reliability, performance, and consistency are the foundation of successful air cargo operations, which is why National Airlines has built its freighter fleet around GE Aerospace engine technology,” said Chris Alf, Chairman of National Airlines. “The addition of these CF6 and GE90 engines further strengthens our operational capability, ensuring we have the flexibility, capacity, and long-term resilience needed to support our customers’ evolving requirements for years ahead.”

Engine specifications and market presence

The CF6 engine family remains a cornerstone of global air cargo operations. According to GE Aerospace, CF6 turbofan engines currently power nearly 70 percent of the world’s widebody cargo airplanes. The addition of six CF6-80C2 engines will specifically support National Airlines’ Boeing 747-400F operations.

The GE90-110B engine features a 128-inch diameter front fan equipped with carbon fiber composite blades. During its Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) certification testing, the GE90 engine achieved a world-record setting thrust of 127,900 pounds.

“We’re thrilled that National Airlines continues to invest in our engines after recently purchasing eight GE90 engines,” said Mohamed Ali, President and CEO of GE Aerospace Commercial Engines & Services. “These additional engines will help National meet growing cargo demand and demonstrates their continued confidence in these aircraft-engine combinations.”

AirPro News analysis

We view this engine commitment as a necessary logistical step following National Airlines’ aggressive fleet expansion in the first half of 2026. Securing spare engines is critical for maintaining dispatch reliability, particularly for a cargo operator heavily dependent on high utilization of aging Boeing 747-400F airframes and newly acquired Boeing 777-200F jets. By standardizing around the CF6 and GE90 platforms, National Airlines minimizes maintenance complexity and ensures a predictable supply chain for its global freight operations.

Sources: GE Aerospace via PR Newswire

Uganda Airlines (UR) finalized its first direct orders with The Boeing Company on July 21, 2026, securing four Boeing 737 MAX 8s and four Boeing 787-9 Dreamliners at the Farnborough International Airshow to fuel a major network expansion from its Entebbe hub.

In a press release issued during the airshow, Boeing confirmed the eight-aircraft deal, which marks a strategic shift for the African carrier. The acquisition is designed to increase capacity on intra-Africa routes and enable new long-haul services to Asia and Europe, positioning Entebbe International Airport (EBB) as a central aviation hub.

Fleet modernization and network expansion

The four Boeing 737 MAX 8 narrowbodies will feature a two-class configuration accommodating 160 to 180 passengers. With a range of 3,500 nautical miles, the 737-8s are slated to support Uganda Airlines‘ regional network, including expanded services to the Middle East and India.

For long-haul operations, the carrier selected the Boeing 787-9 Dreamliner. The widebody aircraft offers a range of 8,300 nautical miles, providing the operational capability required to launch direct flights to European and Asian markets. Boeing noted that both aircraft types are expected to deliver a 20 to 25 percent reduction in fuel use compared to older generation airplanes.

Uganda Airlines CEO Ato Girma Wake described the commitment as a defining step in the carrier’s growth journey and broader ambitions for the region.

“The aircraft will strengthen our ability to connect Uganda more efficiently to regional, continental and international markets, while supporting trade, tourism, investment and cargo development,” Wake stated.

Transitioning from leased capacity

Prior to this direct order, Uganda Airlines operated a primary fleet consisting of Airbus A330-800neo widebodies and Bombardier CRJ900 regional jets. To support its operations and evaluate Boeing products, the airline previously wet-leased Boeing 737-800 and Boeing 787-8 aircraft from Ethiopian Airlines (ET), according to reporting by Aviation Week.

The fleet expansion comes at a critical time for the airline’s market share. Aviation Week data indicated that Uganda Airlines’ capacity for the summer 2026 season had decreased by 11.3 percent compared to the summer 2025 season. The injection of eight new Boeing airframes is expected to reverse this contraction and support the airline’s current network of 17 destinations across 13 countries.

Brad McMullen, Boeing Senior Vice President of Commercial Sales and Marketing, welcomed the new customer relationship. He noted that the aircraft will provide the efficiency and versatility needed to expand the airline’s network while establishing a long-term partnership focused on technical excellence and training.

Discrepancies in order volume

The finalized agreement at Farnborough covers eight passenger aircraft, which differs slightly from earlier indications provided by the Ugandan government. In June 2026, government officials issued a statement signaling an impending acquisition agreement with Boeing for 10 passenger and cargo aircraft.

The July 21 announcement did not address the two-aircraft discrepancy. It remains unconfirmed whether the remaining airframes represent unexercised options, dedicated freighter variants yet to be finalized, or if the overall order size was reduced during final negotiations.

AirPro News analysis

We view this mixed fleet order as a highly aggressive growth maneuver for a relatively young flag carrier. By introducing two entirely new Boeing types into a fleet currently built around Airbus and Bombardier products, Uganda Airlines is taking on significant training, maintenance, and operational complexity. However, the strategic logic is clear: the A330-800neo is a niche aircraft, and the 787-9 provides the standard long-haul economics required to compete with regional heavyweights like Ethiopian Airlines and Kenya Airways. The discrepancy between the government’s June announcement of 10 aircraft and the final firm order of eight suggests that dedicated freighter acquisitions may have been deferred to a later date as the airline prioritizes passenger network recovery.

Sources: The Boeing Company

Saudi Arabian low-cost carrier flynas finalized an order for 25 Airbus aircraft at the 2026 Farnborough International Airshow on July 22, 2026, securing five additional Airbus A330-900s and 20 Airbus A321neos.

The agreement, announced in an Airbus press release, expands the airline’s total firm commitment with the European manufacturer to 235 aircraft. The capacity increase is designed to support domestic and regional expansion, align with Saudi Arabia’s tourism initiatives ahead of Expo 2030 and the 2034 FIFA World Cup, and provide operational resources for the upcoming launch of the flynas Syria joint venture.

Fleet expansion and strategic growth

The new firm order brings the total commitment by flynas for the A330neo to 20 aircraft and the A321neo to 56 aircraft. The carrier currently operates an all-Airbus fleet of 67 aircraft, which includes 61 Airbus A320neos, alongside Airbus A320ceos and Airbus A330-300s. This finalizes a preliminary agreement announced at the 2024 Farnborough Airshow, where the airline initially committed to 75 A320neo-family aircraft and 15 A330-900s.

Bander Almohanna, Chief Executive Officer and Managing Director of flynas, stated that increasing the confirmed Airbus orders out of a total orderbook of 280 aircraft will enable the airline to support the economic transformation taking place across the Saudi economy.

“This step is aimed at ensuring the sustainable growth of the flynas fleet over the coming years to support the continued expansion of our six operating bases across the Kingdom, while also strengthening our operational and expansion capabilities for flynas Syria,” Almohanna said.

The flynas Syria joint venture and regional operations

According to reporting by Aviation Week, flynas is preparing to launch flynas Syria in the fourth quarter of 2026. The new carrier is structured as a joint venture, with Syria’s General Authority of Civil Aviation and Air Transport holding a 51 percent stake and flynas holding the remaining 49 percent.

The joint venture plans to serve destinations across the Middle East, Africa, and Europe. This development follows flynas becoming the first Saudi carrier to restore scheduled service to Damascus, Syria, in June 2025.

The expansion comes amid a complex operating environment in the region. On July 14, 2026, the European Union Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) issued an information note advising operators to account for potential risks when assessing routes through Israeli, Jordanian, Omani, and Saudi Arabian airspace.

AirPro News analysis

We view the formalization of this order as a critical step in flynas’ transition from a traditional narrowbody low-cost carrier to a hybrid network operator. The addition of A330-900s provides the necessary range and capacity to support high-density routes and long-haul ambitions tied to Saudi Arabia’s Vision 2030 tourism goals.

The allocation of resources to flynas Syria represents a calculated commercial maneuver. By partnering directly with Syria’s civil aviation authority, flynas secures a first-mover advantage in a recovering market. However, the recent EASA airspace advisories highlight the persistent operational complexities of expanding a footprint in the Middle East.

Sources: Airbus