FlightGlobal Focus

American AI and defence technology start-up Shield AI is developing one of the most unique military aircraft of the modern era.  The X-Bat is an unmanned fighter jet that takes off and lands vertically from a set of mobile rails. It has no landing gear and no remote pilot, instead flying autonomously under the control of Shield AI’s Hivemind software. Its designer cut his teeth designing reusable...

FlightGlobal's Airlines team looks back on a busy week, which saw Lufthansa Group emerge as the winning bidder for TAP Air Portugal, as well as lots of debate at two IATA events in Brussels on the EU emissions trading system and sustainable aviation fuel mandates. We also discuss how the recent Houthi attacks on Riyadh and other Saudi Arabian airports are affecting airline plans to fly to the...

The latest from Toulouse, where Airbus is weighing the option of stretching out its A350 and A220. Plus, we visited turbofan blade maker Chromalloy in Tampa to explore a supply crunch that has the industry tied in knots, and we watched Regent’s all-electric seagliders take flight over Narragansett Bay.

In something of an industrial coup, Boeing has secured government contracts to build both the US Air Force F-47 and US Navy F/A-XX sixth-generation fighters. It's a stunning reversal for a company whose fighter manufacturing business seemed to be on shaky footing just a few short years ago. What does the dual win mean for Boeing's industrial rivals? And does one company designing both figh...

FlightGlobal's Americas and European Airlines editors take a look at September's air traffic control system failures in the UK, the wind-down of Spirit Airlines in the USA, and what's going on in the US regional aviation sector. We also examine the age-old issue of whether London Heathrow will ever build a third runway.

The FlightGlobal Focus team explores recent headlines, from Airbus adapting its wing-manufacturing strategy to meet roaring demand, to Boeing navigating ETOPS delays amid a GE9X seal redesign, to Vertical Aerospace opening a Kemble assembly site while seeking strategic partners.

It's been more than 40 years since Argentina attempted to seize the Falkland Islands from the UK by force, igniting war in the South Atlantic. The UK emerged victorious in the 74-day conflict, and the Union Jack still flies in the islands today. But in a bizarre turn of events, the American-Israeli war with Iran has stoked old tensions over the Falklands. In response to an alleged lack of supp...

Asian carriers have reported their second-quarter earnings, which have included some heavy losses at China's 'Big Three' airline groups. India's airlines have also been grappling with challenges of their own, although new leadership at Air India and IndiGo is expected to usher in change. FlightGlobal's Airlines team, including Asia-Pacific Airlines Editor Alfred Chua - who has...

A look into some of the summer's top stories, from the FAA's effort to revive commercial supersonic flight to the approaching first flight of Airbus’s A350F and Heart Aerospace’s recent first flight of its all-electric X-1 demonstrator.

The US Navy has spent more than two decades developing its new aircraft carrier, incorporating 23 new or significantly updated technologies into major systems across the ship. These include the Electromagnetic Aircraft Launch System, which replaces the steam-driven catapult of the venerable Nimitz-class carriers with an electric induction motor. The navy says the system costs less to operate and i...

Fuel cost rises stemming from the Iran war really started to hit home for airlines in the second quarter. FlightGlobal's Airlines team, fresh from covering earnings season, takes a look at how carriers in Europe and the USA fared in the April-June period, and how they're feeling as they head into the second half of the year.

Airbus is immersed in a crucial research project to examine in depth the efficiency benefits of broad and slender wings as it prepares to develop a successor to its bestselling A320neo. While the quest for lower fuel-burn tends to centre on the engines, the UK-led Wing of Tomorrow programme is looking at the equally significant contribution from new wing structures and technologies. But design is...

The former head of the US Army says a new generation of hybrid-electric rotorcraft can provide significant tactical advantages over traditional helicopters, including faster flight speeds and increased range. General James McConville was the chief of staff of the US Army from 2019 to 2023. He’s also a seasoned rotary-wing aviator, having flown the Apache, Black Hawk, Kiowa and Cobra, among others....

IATA has appointed its first female director general and its first leader in more than 40 years to come from outside the airline industry. This week, Graham Dunn and Kerry Reals from FlightGlobal's Airlines team discuss the sustainability challenge facing Saadia Zahidi, and how her background at the World Economic Forum could prove to be a real advantage.

From the sidelines of the 2026 Farnborough air show last week, our editors and reporters break down the stories that dominated this year's exhibition. From commercial aircraft and engine orders to hybrid-electric technology development and defence announcements, we tell you all you might have missed.

This year's Farnborough air show kicks off as airlines grapple with the fallout from the Middle East conflict. Meanwhile, governments around the world are seeking to dramatically expand the production of defence equipment amid geopolitical volatility. The entire FlightGlobal team is at Farnborough this week to cover the news as it happens. In this episode, find out what the key themes are this...

One of two engine choices for the Boeing 787, the Trent 1000 has faced durability challenges as thrust demands have increased across the Dreamliner fleet. However, the manufacturer has been working hard on a series of enhancements that it is now rolling out, leading to dramatic improvements to time on wing. In an interview with Murdo Morrison, Rachel Walker, senior vice-president for the Trent 100...

This week, we discuss EasyJet and look at the ongoing acquisition attempts of the European low-cost operator. Plus, we examine the key issues and themes as airlines prepare to report their financial results.  FlightGlobal’s Europe airlines reporter Kerry Reals and contributing airlines editor Graham Dunn join Asia airlines editor Alfred Chua to discuss these developments. 

Horizon Aircraft CEO Brandon Robinson joins FlightGlobal Focus to explain why he views Horizon's somewhat unique hybrid VTOL strategy as a winner. Unlike rivals pursuing short-range, battery-powered air taxi concepts, Horizon is targeting regional missions with its hybrid-electric Cavorite X7, an aircraft designed to carry six passengers on flights up to 400nm. Robinson insists the X7's en...

Steve Parker has been at the helm of Boeing Defense, Space & Security since 2024, first on an interim basis and later as the permanent chief executive officer. A Boeing insider of more than 30 years, Parker stepped into the role at a time of tremendous uncertainty for the company. Its fighter manufacturing business was looking shaky, the world was questioning whether helicopters still had a ro...

Airline executives arrived at this year's AGM with a growing list of problems that transcend borders: higher fuel costs tied to Middle East instability, severe engine shortages, aircraft delivery delays and mounting questions about the viability of sustainable aviation fuel.

Boeing appears to be regaining momentum after years of manufacturing and certification setbacks, expecting 737 Max 7 and 10 certifications this year followed soon after by the 777-9's approval. Meanwhile, Russia's import-substitution strategy advances with key approvals, while Honeywell Aerospace reveals a strategy refresh ahead of its planned 29 June spin into a standalone publicly traded...

With Canada having shortlisted Saab's GlobalEye and the US administration seemingly back on board the Boeing E-7 Wedgetail programme, we assess the latest developments in the airborne early warning sector. How might additional nations – and the NATO alliance – look to bolster their surveillance capabilities, and could China gain an information advantage as it develops its own advanced platform...

With an annual turnover of almost $21 billion, Boeing Global Services' activities span everything from aircraft maintenance and fleet support for commercial and military customers, to parts and distribution, manufacturing cabin products and delivering training. FlightGlobal Focus sat down with BGS CEO Chris Raymond to discuss the affects of ongoing Middle East instability, soaring fuel costs a...

From Rolls-Royce’s hydrogen tests to Russian powerplant developments and GE Aerospace’s push to address Leap engine durability shortcomings, we break down the conventional and unconventional tech shaping aviation propulsion.