Newsletter
AirPro News Weekly: 2 November – 9 November 2026
Avolon’s record 140 737-10 order, Lufthansa-TAP deal — AirPro News Weekly
The AirPro News weekly newsletter as sent to subscribers on 9 November 2026. Not a subscriber? Sign up here; it is free and arrives every Monday.
This week in five minutes
Avolon finalised the largest lessor order for Boeing’s 737-10 at 140 aircraft, while Lufthansa signed to take a 44.9 percent stake in TAP Air Portugal. GE Aerospace closed more than $12.9 billion in deals at China’s CIIE including 202 LEAP-1A engines for China Eastern, and AerFin agreed to buy 44 Boeing 737NGs from Qantas.
1. Avolon Finalizes Record Lessor Order for 140 Boeing 737-10 Jets
Avolon has finalised 140 Boeing 737-10 aircraft in what Boeing calls a record lessor order, lifting its 737 MAX backlog past 240 jets. The deal tightens single-aisle delivery slots through the decade and adds pressure on CFM LEAP-1B capacity for other buyers. Read the story →
2. Lufthansa Signs Deal for 44.9 Percent Stake in TAP Air Portugal
Lufthansa and the Portuguese state signed a deal for a 44.9 percent stake in TAP Air Portugal for 1.025 billion euros, subject to European Commission approval. The transaction reshapes European network competition on South Atlantic and Brazil routes and gives Lufthansa Group a third hub in Lisbon alongside Frankfurt, Munich and Zurich. Read the story →
3. GE Aerospace Signs Record CIIE Deals Including 202 LEAP-1A Engines
GE Aerospace signed more than $12.9 billion of deals at the China International Import Expo, including 202 LEAP-1A engines selected by China Eastern for 101 A320neo family jets. The volume anchors CFM’s China narrowbody base through the next decade and lifts aftermarket demand for LEAP shop visits across Chinese MRO networks. Read the story →
4. AerFin Agrees to Buy 44 Qantas Boeing 737NGs as Airbus Jets Arrive
AerFin agreed to acquire 44 Boeing 737NG aircraft and 88 CFM56-7B engines from Qantas, with transfers staggered over seven years from 2026. The portfolio will feed a strong used serviceable material market for 737NG operators facing LEAP shortages and 737 MAX delivery delays. Read the story →
5. Greece Orders Up to Six Embraer KC-390 Millennium Aircraft
Greece signed a government-to-government deal with Portugal for up to six KC-390 Millennium aircraft, with first delivery scheduled for 2027. The order extends Embraer’s European military footprint alongside Portuguese, Dutch, Austrian and Czech buys and strengthens the KC-390 position in the medium tactical airlifter market against the A400M and C-130J. Read the story →
6. KLM Swaps Planned A320s for E195-E2s in 1 Billion Euro Savings Plan
KLM will cut nearly another 15 percent of positions, replace planned A320s with Embraer E195-E2s and phase out its Boeing 737s and E190s as part of a 1 billion euro savings plan. The fleet shift is a major win for Embraer in a legacy Airbus customer and aligns with the new Schiphol 478,000-flight cap that rewards higher-yield, right-sized operations. Read the story →
7. Firefly to Supply 36 Engines for AST SpaceMobile Blacklift Rocket
Firefly Aerospace will deliver 36 Miranda and Vira engines and license them to AST SpaceMobile under a deal valued at more than $1.3 billion for the Blacklift medium-lift rocket. The agreement turns Firefly into a propulsion merchant supplier and gives AST a dedicated path to deploy its BlueBird direct-to-device constellation without relying on third-party launchers. Read the story →
8. BAE Systems Completes 1,000th KC-135 Stratotanker Repair in Endicott
BAE Systems has completed its 1,000th US Air Force KC-135 fuel management system repair in Endicott, New York, where it remains the sole provider. The milestone underlines sustainment demand on the 60-year-old tanker fleet and the long tail of work still ahead before KC-46 and NGAS fully replace the type. Read the story →
9. Lockheed Martin Speeds Orion Production for Artemis III, IV and V
Lockheed Martin is adding more than 100 Orion assembly jobs at Kennedy Space Center, running three shifts and lifting Avcoat heat shield output at Michoud. The ramp signals schedule confidence for Artemis III, IV and V and triggers pull-through demand across the Orion supplier base. Read the story →
10. FAA Opens First Digital Towers at Bartow and Kenai Airports
The FAA has put its first digital air traffic control towers into service at Bartow in Florida and Kenai in Alaska, with five more airports to follow. The commissioning opens a US market for remote tower vendors already deployed in Europe and offers smaller airports a lower-cost path to staffed ATC. Read the story →
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Newsletter
AirPro News Weekly: 26 October – 2 November 2026
Boeing wins F/A-XX & 737 MAX cert, SpaceX $40B GPU deal — AirPro News Weekly
The AirPro News weekly newsletter as sent to subscribers on 2 November 2026. Not a subscriber? Sign up here; it is free and arrives every Monday.
This week in five minutes
Boeing closed Q3 with 737 MAX certification complete and a $20B U.S. Navy F/A-XX win, while SpaceX signed a $40B GPU master lease with Apollo. Rolls-Royce and the UK Government struck a £2.5B framework for next-generation narrowbody engines, and I Squared Capital agreed to buy Orizon Aerostructures for roughly $2B.
1. Boeing Q3 2026 Results: 737 MAX Certified, F/A-XX Won
Boeing narrowed its Q3 net loss to $116M, completed 737 MAX certification and secured the $20B U.S. Navy F/A-XX fighter contract. The twin milestones unblock narrowbody rate increases for suppliers and anchor Boeing’s defence backlog into the 2030s. Read the story →
2. SpaceX Secures $40 Billion GPU Lease With Apollo Global
SpaceX and Apollo Global Management agreed a $40B master finance lease covering NVIDIA Vera Rubin GPUs for Starlink and compute infrastructure. The deal signals that satellite operators are now competing with hyperscalers for AI silicon and sets a financing template for space-based data businesses. Read the story →
3. Rolls-Royce and UK Government Sign £2.5B Aerospace Framework
Rolls-Royce and the UK Government agreed a 10-year, £2.5B framework to develop next-generation narrowbody engines. The commitment positions Rolls-Royce to re-enter the single-aisle market long dominated by CFM and Pratt & Whitney, with implications for the next Airbus and Boeing programmes. Read the story →
4. I Squared Capital Acquires Orizon Aerostructures for $2 Billion
I Squared Capital agreed to acquire Orizon Aerostructures in a roughly $2B transaction aimed at F-35 and 737 MAX supplier capacity. The deal injects fresh capital into a stressed tier-two base at a moment when both programmes need higher output. Read the story →
5. Airbus Needs 323 Q4 Deliveries to Hit 870 Aircraft Target
Airbus delivered 547 aircraft through September 2026 and must hand over 323 more in Q4 to meet its 870-unit target, against a €51B inventory build. Lessors and airlines expecting Q4 slots should expect compressed induction windows and potential 2027 slippage. Read the story →
6. India DAC Clears Rs 2.12 Lakh Crore Defence Acquisitions
India’s Defence Acquisition Council approved Rs 2,12,000 crore (about $24B) in military procurement, directing 82% to domestic manufacturers. The package reinforces the opportunity set for Indian primes and foreign OEMs willing to transfer technology into local joint ventures. Read the story →
7. MTU Maintenance Signs 10-Year LEAP Engine MRO Deal
MTU Maintenance and Patriot Dynamics finalised a 10-year LEAP-1A and LEAP-1B MRO agreement anchored at MTU’s new Fort Worth facility. The contract locks in long-term shop volume for the fastest-growing narrowbody engine type and strengthens MTU’s North American LEAP footprint. Read the story →
8. Honeywell Aerospace Invests $500M in Tempe Arizona Facility
Honeywell Aerospace will build a 300,000-sq-ft plant in Tempe, Arizona, to internalise machining and support a $15B programme backlog. The move reduces dependence on external machining suppliers and signals a reshoring push for precision aerospace components. Read the story →
9. easyJet to Install Starlink Wi-Fi Across Its Entire Fleet
easyJet will equip 350-plus Airbus aircraft with Starlink from 2027 in its first inflight connectivity rollout. The commitment is one of the largest short-haul Starlink deals to date and intensifies pressure on incumbent Ka- and Ku-band IFC providers. Read the story →
10. NASA X-59 Reaches Mach 1.53 in First Year of Flight Testing
NASA’s X-59 Quesst demonstrator hit Mach 1.53 and 56,000 ft across 41 flights, advancing toward acoustic validation. The data underpins the FAA and ICAO case for lifting the overland supersonic ban that has gated commercial supersonic development for decades. Read the story →
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Newsletter
AirPro News Weekly: 19 October – 26 October 2026
737 MAX 10 certified, F-35 850-jet deal — AirPro News Weekly
The AirPro News weekly newsletter as sent to subscribers on 26 October 2026. Not a subscriber? Sign up here; it is free and arrives every Monday.
This week in five minutes
The FAA closed out the MAX family with type certification of the Boeing 737 MAX 10, Lockheed Martin signed a 10-year F-35 framework covering more than 850 aircraft, and Western Sydney International opened as Australia’s first major new airport in half a century. GE Aerospace booked $19B in Q3 orders and NASA reset the Artemis schedule toward a 2028 crewed lunar landing.
1. FAA Certifies Boeing 737 MAX 10 for Commercial Service
The FAA issued the type certificate for the Boeing 737 MAX 10 on Oct. 20, 2026, completing certification of the MAX family. Launch customers including United, Delta and Ryanair can now begin taking deliveries of the stretched variant, unlocking the largest backlog slice in the single-aisle narrowbody segment. Read the story →
2. Lockheed Martin Signs 10-Year F-35 Framework for 850 Aircraft
Lockheed Martin signed a 10-year F-35 framework covering more than 850 aircraft at 156 per year, with $7B in self-funding pending Congressional approval. The agreement gives Pratt & Whitney, BAE Systems and the global tier-2 base production visibility through the mid-2030s and locks in the ramp needed for FMS backlog. Read the story →
3. Western Sydney International Airport Opens After 50 Years
Western Sydney International Airport opened on Oct. 25, 2026, Australia’s first major new airport in more than 50 years. The curfew-free greenfield facility creates slot and overnight-freight capacity that Kingsford Smith cannot offer and reshapes network planning for carriers serving southeast Australia. Read the story →
4. NASA Restructures Artemis Program, Targets 2028 Moon Landing
NASA has redefined Artemis III as a 2027 LEO demonstration and set 2028 as the target for the first crewed lunar landing using SpaceX or Blue Origin hardware. The reshuffle changes milestone payments and integration schedules for Starship HLS, Blue Moon and dozens of Gateway and lunar surface suppliers. Read the story →
5. GE Aerospace Q3 2026 Results: Orders Up 49 Percent
GE Aerospace reported $19B in Q3 2026 orders, lifted full-year EPS guidance to $8.00-$8.10 and now carries a $170B services backlog. The numbers confirm airline MRO spend is still accelerating on LEAP and GE9X, and give shop-visit forecasters a firm ceiling for 2027 capacity planning. Read the story →
6. Pratt & Whitney Canada PT9 Turboprop Certified
Pratt & Whitney Canada unveiled the PT9 turboprop, certified by Transport Canada and rated at 1,700-2,300 shp with hybrid-electric readiness. The new engine opens a replacement path for ageing PT6A-67 and PW100 installs on utility, commuter and ISR airframes and is the first clean-sheet turboprop in that class in decades. Read the story →
7. IAI 777-300ERSF P2F Conversions Launch in North America
The first Boeing 777-300ER earmarked for P2F conversion in North America arrived at Ascent Aviation Services in Marana, Arizona under IAI’s Big Twin program. The new line gives feedstock lessors a second induction site and an alternative to Tel Aviv for an airframe that is becoming the market’s benchmark widebody converted freighter. Read the story →
8. FAA Grants First eVTOL Market Survey Certificate to BETA
BETA Technologies received the first FAA market survey authorization for an eVTOL aircraft, the ALIA A250, ahead of full type certification. The approval lets operators carry revenue cargo in US airspace for the first time with a lift-plus-cruise eVTOL, giving the sector its first real commercial reference flights. Read the story →
9. AFRL and SpaceX Test Rocket Cargo Delivery With Starfall Capsule
AFRL and SpaceX tested military cargo delivery via a Starfall reentry capsule on Oct. 20, 2026 under the Rocket Cargo Vanguard program. The flight is the first hardware proof point for point-to-point suborbital logistics and starts to shape procurement conversations around a capability that could compete with strategic airlift. Read the story →
10. Jazeera Airways Takes Delivery of First A320neo from 26-Aircraft Order
Jazeera Airways received its first A320neo on Oct. 15, 2026, kicking off a delivery stream from a 26-aircraft order that will double the Kuwaiti low-cost carrier’s fleet by 2030. The ramp commits new Pratt & Whitney GTF capacity in the Gulf and signals that intra-regional LCC growth is still outpacing legacy flag-carrier expansion. Read the story →
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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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Get the week’s key announcements every Monday: join the AirPro News newsletter. Browse every past issue.
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Aircraft Orders & Deliveries4 days agoAvolon Finalizes Record Lessor Order for 140 Boeing 737-10 Jets
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Aircraft Orders & Deliveries4 days agoEve Air Mobility and FlyBIS Sign Binding Deal for Up to 12 eVTOLs
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Regulations & Safety5 days agoSchiphol Airport Traffic Decree Takes Effect With 478,000 Flight Cap
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Commercial Space2 days agoFirefly to Supply 36 Engines for AST SpaceMobile Blacklift Rocket
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Defense Contracts4 days agoAir Force Expands Joby Autonomy Contracts After Cross-Country Tour