Samson Sky, developer of the Switchblade Flying Car, announced it has secured an $80 million investment from Dubai‑based Matin Group. According to Sam Bousfield, CEO, Founder and chief designer of the Switchblade, the funding will enable the company to establish its first 180,000‑square‑foot U.S. production facility, marking a major step toward industrializing Switchb...
As the 10th edition of the Riga Aviation Forum was getting ready to open, 50SkyShades — a long‑standing Media Partner of the event — took the opportunity to sit down with Zigmars Vestfals, CEO of the Latvian Aviation Association, just hours before the official kick‑off. Marking a decade of strategic dialogue and industry collaboration, Zigmars Vestfals reflects on how the Forum bega...
Boeing and American Airlines announced the successful completion of the first landing gear exchange for a 737 MAX, marking a key milestone as the company extends its longstanding Landing Gear Exchange Program to the MAX platform. The exchange validates Boeing's ability to deliver fully overhauled, Boeing‑certified main and nose landing gear assemblies that arrive ready to install — reduc...
Global Jet Capital has released its sixth annual Business Jet Market Forecast, outlining a confident outlook for the sector. The updated analysis anticipates steady expansion over the next five years, driven by robust order backlogs, resilient macroeconomic conditions, and sustained global wealth creation. The forecast extends through 2030, offering detailed projections across both new aircraft de...
Uzbekistan Airways and Lufthansa Technik have renewed their cooperation with a long‑term agreement extending comprehensive component support for the airline’s Boeing 787 Dreamliner and Airbus A320ceo/neo fleets through 2035. The contract reinforces a partnership that has already delivered more than three decades of successful technical collaboration. The extended agreement ensures extensi...
flydubai unveiled the launch of its dedicated freighter operations, a dynamic expansion that advances the airline’s diversification strategy and further elevates Dubai’s standing as a global powerhouse for logistics and trade. Starting 01 October 2026, flydubai will introduce three Boeing 737‑800 freighters into its fleet under a wet‑lease agreement with SolitAir, adding 23,000 kg...
Gol Airlines continues to expand its South American reach, leveraging its Brazilian network to open new travel possibilities. European passengers can now access southern Argentina through São Paulo, choosing either a convenient connection or a multi‑stop itinerary that includes Brazil. This seasonal link from São Paulo to El Calafate and Ushuaia brings two iconic Patagonian destinati...
Boeing, TAROM and CDB Aviation have celebrated the delivery of the airline’s first 737‑8, marking the arrival of Romania’s first Boeing 737 MAX and a key milestone in the national carrier’s fleet‑modernization and long‑term growth strategy. Cristian Anghel, TAROM CEO commented: “The addition of the first Boeing 737 MAX aircraft to the TAROM fleet is a pivotal moment in...
TARMAC Aerosave, Europe’s leading specialist in aircraft storage, maintenance, dismantling and recycling, has announced an expanded collaboration with AerFin, the global aviation asset‑management provider. In the coming months, the partners will process more than ten aircraft as part of advanced dismantling and recycling programmes, focusing on new‑generation narrow‑body platforms, including...
EHang announced its extensive involvement in the FIA Sustainable Innovation Series held in Madrid during the Formula 1 Spanish Grand Prix week. Organized by the Fédération Internationale de l’Automobile and aligned with FIA World Championships and Member Clubs, the Series convenes key figures from motor sport, mobility, technology, industry and government to accelerate the tran...
Global trade body The Air Charter Association (The ACA) celebrated another record‑setting edition of Air Charter Expo (ACE’26) on Tuesday, 8 September 2026, delivered in partnership with Business Air News and London Biggin Hill Airport. ACE has firmly established itself as the premier one‑day event in the air charter industry calendar, and this year’s edition once again surpassed...
KVE by Daher is marking its 30th anniversary with the inauguration of a significant expansion of its production facility in The Hague — a development that signals the start of a new acceleration phase for the Dutch manufacturer. This growth is fueled by robust demand across the aerospace and defense markets, KVE’s recognized expertise in advanced composite technologies, and the strong...
Regional turboprop fleets show stark disparities in age, reliability, and economic viability. Many aircraft are approaching end‑of‑life, while others are increasingly difficult to operate as spare‑parts supply chains become slower, less predictable, and significantly more expensive. For a growing number of operators, monthly OpEx required to keep ageing fleets airworthy now exceeds the CapEx they...
ExecuJet MRO Services South Africa, a wholly-owned subsidiary of Dassault Aviation, will be exhibiting at the Africa Aerospace & Defence (AAD) Expo 2026 at Waterkloof Air Force Base in Pretoria (16-20 September). The company will host customers and industry stakeholders at Chalet 14, creating a relaxed environment to connect, catch up and exchange ideas. While the company will showcase it...
Vista is set to debut its signature hospitality concept, Vista House, in Singapore, elevating one of Asia’s most anticipated sporting weekends with a refined, members‑only experience. Conceived as an intimate private clubhouse, Vista House will offer VistaJet and XO Members a serene destination to unwind, connect, and enjoy the race weekend in an atmosphere of comfort and unmistakable elegan...
Daher Aircraft has reaffirmed its leadership in turboprop aviation, securing the No. 1 position for the sixth consecutive year in Professional Pilot magazine’s Product Support Survey. In the 2026 edition, more than 100 operators and owners of the TBM and Kodiak fleets evaluated the company across seven core support criteria. Their feedback placed Daher Aircraft at the top of every category,...
Baltic Ground Services (BGS), a global provider of ground handling and aircraft fueling services, has initiated cooperation with Airest, taking over into‑plane fueling operations at Kaunas (KUN) and Riga (RIX) airports. The services are performed by BGS in Kaunas and by Gulfstream Oil (GSO), part of the BGS Group, in Riga. The agreement opens a new chapter in the relationship between BGS and Aires...
FlyBy Aviation Academy, one of the largest and most international EASA-approved pilot training organisations in Europe, is pleased to announce the start of a new pilot training course — internally designated Batch 26500 — welcoming 44 new cadets from 14 different nationalities. To accommodate this scale of intake, the new course has been split into two parallel classes, one based at Fl...
The Los Angeles Rams have touched down in Melbourne on a Qantas charter flight ahead of Friday's NFL game at the Melbourne Cricket Ground, the first regular season game the league has played in Australia. Qantas also flew the San Francisco 49ers to Melbourne last week, with both teams travelling on A380s from Los Angeles and San Francisco. Each charter covered around 12,900 kilometres with...
Textron Aviation announced that Starlink’s high‑speed internet solution is now available for Hawker 700, 800 and 900 series aircraft, following the Federal Aviation Administration’s approval of AeroMech’s Supplemental Type Certificate. The STC incorporates the Starlink Aviation Performance Kit, leveraging Starlink’s advanced constellation of Low Earth Orbit satellites...
Kepplair Evolution, just days after completing the first pre‑modification flights of its prototype aircraft, has announced the closing of a new €6 million funding round — bringing total financing secured since 2024 to €17.5 million, including €12.5 million in private investment and €5 million in public support from the French State and the Occitanie Region (France 2030 an...
