Newsletter
AirPro News Weekly: 12 October – 19 October 2026
ACG orders 75 A320neo, Lufthansa takes TAP stake — AirPro News Weekly
The AirPro News weekly newsletter as sent to subscribers on 19 October 2026. Not a subscriber? Sign up here; it is free and arrives every Monday.
This week in five minutes
Aviation Capital Group placed its largest-ever order for 75 A320neo Family jets, and Lufthansa Group won the race for a 44.9% stake in TAP Air Portugal for €1.025 billion. SITA agreed to acquire Collins Aerospace Airport Solutions from RTX, S&K Aerospace landed a $4.3B USAF PROS 7 IDIQ, and New Zealand finalised a NZ$1.648B buy of five MH-60R Seahawks.
1. ACG Orders 75 Airbus A320neo Family Aircraft for 2032-2035
Aviation Capital Group placed its largest-ever order, 75 A320neo Family aircraft for delivery in 2032-2035, lifting its total A320neo commitment to 190 jets. The deal locks in next-decade narrowbody lift for an already tight lessor market, firming values and placement options for airlines chasing fleet renewal slots. Read the story →
2. Lufthansa Group Acquires 44.9% Stake in TAP Air Portugal
Portugal selected Lufthansa Group over Air France-KLM to acquire 44.9% of TAP Air Portugal for €1.025 billion. The deal gives Lufthansa a dominant position on Europe-Brazil and Lusophone Africa routes and tilts the European consolidation map against SkyTeam. Read the story →
3. SITA to Acquire Collins Aerospace Airport Solutions from RTX
SITA agreed to acquire Collins Aerospace Airport Solutions from RTX, including the MUSE common-use platform and biometric kiosks, with closing targeted in H1 2027. The combination concentrates passenger-processing software under one vendor, giving airports fewer integration partners but a larger upgrade roadmap for biometrics and self-service. Read the story →
4. S&K Aerospace Wins $4.3B U.S. Air Force PROS 7 Contract
S&K Aerospace secured a $4.3 billion IDIQ contract to manage PROS 7 spares and sustainment for more than 100 FMS partner nations through 2039. The award gives a Native-owned 8(a) prime a 13-year perch at the centre of US foreign military sales logistics, reshaping the tier-two supplier base behind every FMS aircraft programme. Read the story →
5. New Zealand Buys Five MH-60R Seahawk Helicopters for $1.6B
New Zealand finalised an NZ$1.648 billion FMS deal for five Sikorsky MH-60R Seahawks to replace its ageing Super Seasprite fleet. The order widens the Five Eyes MH-60R user base and locks in decades of Lockheed Martin sustainment, radar and torpedo work in the Indo-Pacific. Read the story →
6. Japan Airlines Orders Up to 26 Embraer E190-E2 for J-AIR
Japan Airlines placed 16 firm and 10 option E190-E2s for regional unit J-AIR, filling the gap left by the cancelled Mitsubishi SpaceJet. The deal gives Embraer a flagship Japanese customer and strengthens the E2 against the A220 in the 100-seat segment. Read the story →
7. GE Aerospace Invests £57 Million to Expand Prestwick MRO Facility
GE Aerospace and UK government partners announced a £57 million expansion of the Prestwick engine MRO facility in Scotland, adding 150 jobs. The investment boosts European shop-visit capacity for GE and CFM engines at a time when airlines are waiting more than a year for narrowbody engine returns. Read the story →
8. Mammoth Freighters Launches 777-200LR Conversion at STAECO China
Mammoth Freighters inducted its first Boeing 777-200LR for passenger-to-freighter conversion at STAECO in Qingdao, extending its network beyond its US lines. The second induction site adds Asian throughput for 777 P2F capacity just as feedstock from retiring widebodies accelerates. Read the story →
9. FCC Authorizes SpaceX 15,000 Satellite Direct-to-Device Network
The FCC approved SpaceX to deploy a 15,000-satellite direct-to-device constellation in low Earth orbit, targeting a standalone mobile service launch in 2028. The ruling clears the path for SpaceX to compete head-on with AST SpaceMobile and terrestrial carriers, and reshapes LEO launch demand through the decade. Read the story →
10. F-22 Raptor Pilot Controls Anduril YFQ-44A Fury Drone in Flight
A USAF F-22 pilot directed an Anduril YFQ-44A Fury drone in flight in October 2026, validating the Collaborative Combat Aircraft airborne-quarterback concept. The demonstration moves the CCA programme from software demo to live crewed-uncrewed teaming, bringing production decisions and sustainment contracts closer for Anduril and General Atomics. Read the story →
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Newsletter
AirPro News Weekly: 5 October – 12 October 2026
Avolon orders 250 jets, Biman picks Airbus, +8 — AirPro News Weekly
The AirPro News weekly newsletter as sent to subscribers on 12 October 2026. Not a subscriber? Sign up here; it is free and arrives every Monday.
This week in five minutes
Avolon placed a 250-aircraft dual-OEM order with Boeing and Airbus, Biman Bangladesh added 10 Airbus widebody and narrowbody jets, and ST Engineering opened a S$170 million widebody MRO facility in Singapore. Romania signed for 12 Airbus H225M helicopters under EU SAFE funding, while NASA detailed a three-helicopter 2028 Mars mission.
1. Avolon orders 250 Boeing and Airbus jets in fleet expansion
Dublin-based Avolon committed to 140 Boeing 737 MAX and 110 Airbus aircraft, lifting firm orders to 749 with deliveries running through 2036. The split order locks in narrowbody capacity for both OEMs and signals leasing demand remains firm into the next decade. Read the story →
2. Biman Bangladesh Airlines orders 10 Airbus A350 and A321neo jets
Biman firmed up an order for four A350-900s and six A321neos, closing a 35-aircraft procurement cycle for 2026. The deal gives Airbus a flag-carrier foothold in South Asia and shapes long-haul and regional fleet planning for Dhaka through the 2030s. Read the story →
3. ST Engineering opens S$170M airframe MRO facility in Singapore
The Changi Creek facility adds 40% to ST Engineering’s widebody MRO capacity and introduces AI, drone inspections and humanoid robotics on the hangar floor. Operators facing tight Asia-Pacific heavy maintenance slots gain a near-term outlet, and MRO peers get a benchmark for automation adoption. Read the story →
4. Romania orders 12 Airbus H225M helicopters under EU SAFE
Bucharest signed a firm €757 million contract for 12 H225M Caracals to replace its aging IAR-330 Puma fleet. The buy is one of the first big-ticket EU SAFE-funded procurements and sets a template for how member states will finance NATO rotary recapitalization. Read the story →
5. American Airlines to equip full mainline fleet with Starlink
American expanded its Starlink deal to cover more than 1,000 Boeing narrowbody and widebody mainline aircraft, with installations starting in early 2027. The commitment pressures legacy IFC providers Viasat and Panasonic and accelerates the LEO shift across North American carriers. Read the story →
6. First Brazil-built Saab Gripen E completes maiden flight
Embraer flew the first Gripen E assembled outside Sweden from its Gavião Peixoto facility on October 6, 2026. The milestone validates Brazil’s offset-driven industrial transfer and strengthens Saab’s pitch to future Latin American and export customers seeking local assembly. Read the story →
7. US Coast Guard orders four MQ-9B SeaGuardian UAS for $247.8M
The US Coast Guard awarded General Atomics a $247.8 million contract for four MQ-9B SeaGuardians to expand maritime surveillance. The order broadens the SeaGuardian customer base beyond navies and signals rising civil-maritime demand for medium-altitude long-endurance drones. Read the story →
8. Blue Origin invests $554.8M in Texas manufacturing campus
Blue Origin committed $554.8 million to build Constellation Park in Hutto, Texas, producing satellite and ground communications hardware. The investment positions Blue Origin as a vertically integrated competitor to SpaceX in LEO constellations and anchors a new US space manufacturing cluster. Read the story →
9. LATAM Airlines Brazil takes delivery of first Embraer E195-E2
LATAM Brazil received its first E195-E2 on October 8, with 12 aircraft expected by year-end and service across 42 routes by March 2027. The induction opens a domestic home-market campaign for Embraer and reshapes LATAM’s regional unit costs against Airbus-only competitors. Read the story →
10. NASA SkyFall mission to deploy 3 helicopters on Mars in 2028
NASA will send three radar-equipped helicopters to Mars in 2028 to map subsurface water ice ahead of future crewed missions. The scaled-up follow-on to Ingenuity opens new supplier opportunities in planetary rotorcraft, radar payloads and autonomous flight software. Read the story →
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Newsletter
AirPro News Weekly: 28 September – 5 October 2026
Boeing wins $20B F/A-XX, A350F first flight — AirPro News Weekly
The AirPro News weekly newsletter as sent to subscribers on 5 October 2026. Not a subscriber? Sign up here; it is free and arrives every Monday.
This week in five minutes
Boeing captured the U.S. Navy’s F/A-XX sixth-generation fighter contract worth more than $20 billion, cementing a decades-long defence programme. Airbus flew the A350F freighter for the first time in Toulouse, starting a 400-hour certification campaign targeting mid-2027 entry. AAR agreed to buy a controlling stake in MRO Holdings for $1.8 billion, reshaping the global heavy maintenance market.
1. Boeing wins $20B U.S. Navy F/A-XX fighter contract
The U.S. Navy awarded Boeing more than $20 billion for full-scale development of the F/A-XX sixth-generation carrier fighter. The win secures St. Louis fighter work for a generation and sets the supplier baseline that defence primes and tier-ones will chase into the 2030s. Read the story →
2. Airbus A350F freighter completes maiden flight in Toulouse
The A350F flew for the first time from Toulouse on 29 September 2026, opening a 400-hour EASA certification campaign aimed at approval by mid-2027. First deliveries will give large-widebody cargo operators a direct alternative to the 777F and 777-8F, firming up fleet planning decisions already underway at the big integrators and freight carriers. Read the story →
3. AAR Corp. acquires 65% stake in MRO Holdings for $1.8B
AAR agreed to acquire a 65% controlling interest in MRO Holdings for $1.8 billion, combining heavy airframe maintenance footprints across the Americas. The deal creates the largest heavy maintenance provider globally and reduces hangar capacity choices for airlines negotiating long-term check contracts. Read the story →
4. FAA clears Boeing 737 MAX 10 certification after FMS review
The FAA ruled that a flight management system anomaly on the 737 MAX is not a safety risk and resumed MAX 10 certification. The decision unblocks a programme with hundreds of orders at United, Delta and Ryanair and lets Boeing restart timelines its narrowbody customers have waited years to confirm. Read the story →
5. Ethiopian Airlines orders 10 Boeing 777 freighters
Ethiopian Airlines placed a firm order for eight 777-8 Freighters and two 777 Freighters, becoming Africa’s launch customer for the 777-8F. The commitment anchors Addis Ababa as a continental cargo hub and gives the 777-8F programme a visible second operator to reference against the A350F. Read the story →
6. Avio USA breaks ground on Virginia solid rocket motor plant
Avio USA started construction of a $500 million, 900,000 sq ft solid rocket motor facility in Virginia, backed by Lockheed Martin and Raytheon. The plant adds a third major U.S. SRM supplier alongside Northrop Grumman and Aerojet, easing a bottleneck that has constrained missile deliveries to the DoD and allies. Read the story →
7. Rolls-Royce invests £300 million in UK manufacturing sites
Rolls-Royce committed £300 million to expand manufacturing and MRO capacity across five UK sites covering Civil Aerospace and Defence. The spend targets Trent widebody engine throughput at a time when operators are reporting multi-month shop-visit queues, directly affecting A350 and 787 operator fleet availability. Read the story →
8. Coast Guard awards $735M contract for six C-130J aircraft
The U.S. Coast Guard ordered six C-130J Super Hercules from Lockheed Martin for $735 million, lifting its fleet to 25 airframes. The buy extends Marietta production into the next decade and keeps the C-130J supplier base busy as parallel orders from India and allied nations stack up. Read the story →
9. Deutsche Aircraft opens D328eco final assembly line in Leipzig
Deutsche Aircraft inaugurated its €100 million D328eco final assembly line in Leipzig on 29 September 2026, with rated capacity of 48 aircraft per year. The site puts a new Western regional turboprop into production as regional operators look for replacements for ageing Dash 8 and ATR 42 fleets. Read the story →
10. Northrop Grumman YFQ-48A Talon Blue completes first autonomous flight
The YFQ-48A Talon Blue flew autonomously for the first time at Mojave on 3 October 2026, validating Northrop Grumman’s bid for USAF Collaborative Combat Aircraft Increment 2. A successful first flight keeps Northrop in a two-horse CCA race against Anduril’s Fury and sets up down-select decisions that will shape unmanned fighter supply chains. Read the story →
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Newsletter
AirPro News Weekly: 20 September – 27 September 2026
The aviation, aerospace and space announcements that mattered from 20 September to 27 September 2026, as sent to AirPro News newsletter subscribers.
The AirPro News weekly newsletter as sent to subscribers on 28 September 2026. Not a subscriber? Sign up here; it is free and arrives every Monday.
1. Airbus A321neo Fuselage Defect Affects Around 500 Aircraft
Airbus notifies customers of an anti-corrosion coating defect on A321neo fuselage stringers affecting roughly 500 aircraft. Read more…
2. Boeing 737 MAX Navigation Glitch Delays Fix Until 2028
Boeing’s 737 MAX navigation software anomaly, found in 2024, faces FAA review and may delay MAX 7 and MAX 10 certification. Read more…
3. Turkish Airlines Orders Up to 150 Boeing 737 MAX Aircraft
Turkish Airlines finalizes 100 firm 737 MAX orders plus 50 options, with deliveries from 2033 to 2037 under its Vision 2033 plan. Read more…
4. Akasa Air in Talks With Boeing for 200 737 MAX Aircraft
Akasa Air is negotiating a 200+ Boeing 737 MAX order that could be decided by early 2027, extending its fleet pipeline beyond 2032. Read more…
5. Heart Aerospace ES-36 Unveiled With JSX Order for 100 Aircraft
Heart Aerospace unveiled the ES-36 hybrid-electric airliner with a deposit-backed JSX order for up to 100 aircraft and a 2031 service target. Read more…
6. Pratt & Whitney GTF Advantage Enters Service on United A321XLR
Pratt & Whitney delivered the first GTF Advantage-powered A321XLR to United Airlines on September 24, 2026. Read more…
7. Iridium Stockholders Approve Rocket Lab Acquisition
99.6% of votes cast approved Rocket Lab’s ~$8B acquisition of Iridium, expected to close mid-2027. Read more…
8. Archer Aviation Clears Antitrust Review for Boeing Acquisition
Archer Aviation’s ~$1B acquisition of Wisk Aero, SkyGrid, and Insitu clears HSR review, on track to close by end of 2026. Read more…
9. SpaceX Starship Flight 14 Targets First Orbital Mission
SpaceX targets September 28, 2026 for Starship’s first orbital flight, carrying 26 Starlink V3 satellites from Boca Chica, Texas. Read more…
10. FAA Launches SMART AI Platform in Washington D.C. Airspace
The FAA deployed its SMART AI platform at BWI, IAD, and DCA on Sept. 21, 2026, to predict and reduce flight disruptions. Read more…
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Space & Satellites5 days agoFCC Authorizes SpaceX 15000 Satellite Direct-to-Device Network
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Technology & Innovation7 days agoFAA Awards Heart Aerospace $2.9M for ES-36 Hybrid Propulsion
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Space & Satellites6 days agoNASA SpaceX CRS-35 Mission Targets October 2026 ISS Launch
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Route Development5 days agoHollywood Burbank Airport Opens $1.3B Terminal in 2026
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Aircraft Orders & Deliveries3 days agoACG Orders 75 Airbus A320neo Family Aircraft for 2032-2035