Monthly Archives: July 2026

Airbus Canada says operations contributed $8.4B to GDP from 2023 to 2025

16 Thursday Jul 2026

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Canada is where Airbus has the most significant presence outside Europe. Airbus photo.

MIRABEL, Que. – Airbus Canada on Thursday released a report saying its operations generated an estimated C$8.4 billion in Canadian gross domestic product between 2023 and 2025 and supported nearly 60,000 job-years over the period.

The report, commissioned by Airbus Canada and prepared by accounting firm PwC Canada, found the European aircraft manufacturer supported an average of about 20,000 jobs annually during the three-year period.

Last year, Airbus spent more than $2.2 billion on its Canadian operations with about 70% of that spending going to domestic suppliers serving both civil and military markets.

The company works with about 1,000 suppliers in Canada, more than half of them small and medium-sized businesses, it said.

“Today, Canada is where Airbus has the most significant presence outside Europe with all its business units — defence and space, helicopters and commercial aircraft — being present,” said Airbus Canada CEO Guillaume Chevasson.

The report also found the average income of an Airbus employee in Canada is about 60% higher than the national average across all industries.

Airbus employs more than 5,300 people in Canada, primarily in Quebec, Ontario and Nova Scotia, with the company supporting 27% aerospace jobs in Quebec.

Its commercial aircraft business accounted for $5.5 billion of the company’s total GDP contribution between 2023 and 2025, while Airbus Helicopters contributed $237.5 million.

Airbus Defence and Space generated $778.4 million in economic spending over the same period. Subsidiaries Skywise and Airbus Atlantic Canada contributed $184 million and $617 million, respectively, according to the report.

Boeing, partners to flight-test fuel-saving, noise-reduction technologies

16 Thursday Jul 2026

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SEATTLE – Boeing said Thursday it will begin flight tests later this month with Lufthansa and Rolls-Royce of engine and flight operation technologies designed to improve fuel efficiency and reduce aircraft noise.

The U.S. aircraft manufacturer said the testing will use a Boeing 787-9 Dreamliner at its facility in Glasgow, Montana, and is expected to continue through mid-August.

The aircraft, powered by Rolls-Royce Trent 1000 engines, is scheduled for delivery to Lufthansa after the test program.

The companies also will test modified departure and arrival procedures, including Intelligent Operations flight paths.

Boeing said the flight paths use algorithms and multiple data sources to identify routes intended to improve fuel efficiency while reducing community noise around airports.

The flight tests are part of Phase III of the Federal Aviation Administration’s Continuous Lower Energy, Emissions and Noise, or CLEEN, program, a public-private initiative that supports the development and testing of technologies to improve aircraft fuel efficiency and reduce noise.

One technology being evaluated is the Next Generation Inlet, a reduced-length engine inlet with advanced acoustic treatments. Boeing said the design is intended to reduce engine weight and aerodynamic drag while maintaining acoustic performance and supporting the integration of more fuel-efficient engines on future aircraft.

Rolls-Royce is providing engineering support and oversight for operation of the Trent 1000 engine equipped with the Next Generation Inlet during the flight tests.

Boeing’s ecoDemonstrator 757

The flight tests are being conducted as part of Boeing’s ecoDemonstrator program, launched in 2012 to evaluate new aviation technologies under operational flight conditions.

The program has tested more than 260 technologies related to fuel efficiency, emissions, noise reduction, safety and operational performance.

Sustainability will be a major topic of discussion at next week’s Farnborough International Airshow in the United Kingdom.

Commercial aviation generates about 2.5% of global carbon dioxide emissions, but its overall contribution to climate change is estimated at 3.5% to 4% when non-CO₂ effects such as contrails are taken into account.

The figures are based on a 2021 study published in Atmospheric Environment and cited by the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change.

Images are courtesy of Boeing and Rolls-Royce.

Emirates completes retrofit of 100 widebody jets

14 Tuesday Jul 2026

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Graphic: Emirates

DUBAI, United Arab Emirates – Emirates has completed the refurbishment of its 100th widebody aircraft as part of a fleet retrofit program backed by a US$5 billion investment, the UAE national carrier said Tuesday.

Since the program began in November 2022, Emirates has refurbished 47 Airbus A380s and 53 Boeing 777s at its engineering facilities in Dubai. The airline expects to upgrade about 20 more aircraft by the end of 2026.

Over 44 months, more than 400 engineers and technicians spent a combined 4.4 million work hours refurbishing the aircraft.

The upgrades include refreshed cabin interiors and the installation of more than 3,800 Premium Economy seats, expanding the availability of the cabin class on additional routes across its network.

Business Class in the newly retrofitted A380 aircraft. Emirates Photo.

“Completing full cabin retrofits for 100 widebody aircraft in 44 months is a significant achievement,” Emirates President Sir Tim Clark said in a statement.

The retrofit work has been carried out at Emirates Engineering facilities in Dubai.

In May, the airline completed its first retrofit of a two-class to three-class Airbus A380, adding a Premium Economy cabin to the aircraft’s upper deck.

Beginning in October, Emirates plans to install new 4K OLED HDR10+ seatback screens and Safran Z400 seats as the retrofit program enters its next phase.

Embraer unveils Phenom 300EV

14 Tuesday Jul 2026

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MELBOURNE, Fla. – Embraer on Tuesday unveiled the Phenom 300EV, the latest version of its Phenom 300 light executive jet, ahead of next week’s opening of the Farnborough International Airshow in the United Kingdom.

The Brazilian aircraft manufacturer expects deliveries to begin in 2028.

The airplane is equipped with Garmin Emergency Autoland, which can automatically land the aircraft if the pilot becomes incapacitated. Embraer said the Phenom 300EV is the largest business jet equipped with the system.

The new jet has a maximum range of 2,055 nautical miles (3,806 kilometers) and 430 pounds of additional payload capacity over the previous model.

Cabin updates feature low-Earth-orbit satellite connectivity through Gogo Galileo, with Starlink connectivity planned as an aftermarket option.

Embraer said the Phenom 300EV will be supported through its global service network.

The Phenom 300 series has been the world’s best-selling light jet for 14 consecutive years, according to the company.

The Phantom 300EV is not expected at the Farnborough Airshow, opening July 24.

Embraer will, however, showcase the E195-E2, the largest member of its E2 narrow-body family, and the KC-390 Millennium tactical transport and multi-mission aircraft at the five-day event.

Images are courtesy of Embraer.

Thales to modernize Mongolia’s air traffic management infrastructure

13 Monday Jul 2026

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PARIS – Thales has won a contract to modernize Mongolia’s air traffic management infrastructure, the French aerospace giant announced Monday.

Under the deal with the National Civil Aviation Center of Mongolia, Thales will deploy a next-generation dual Area Control Center architecture, upgrading the existing ACC in the capital, Ulaanbaatar, and establishing a new ACC in the Gobi desert town of Sainshand.

The company said the project will significantly enhance operational resilience, airspace capacity and cybersecurity of critical infrastructure.

While no financial details were disclosed, Thales said the project is backed by a “flexible financing solution” established between Bpi France and the Trade and Development Bank of Mongolia.

The agreement also includes skills transfer, with Ecole Nationale de l’Aviation Civile sending instructors to train Mongolian air traffic controllers.

“This agreement represents a major milestone for Mongolia’s aviation sector and stands as a strong example of strategic international cooperation delivering tangible and lasting impact,” Thales said.

Mongolia, a landlocked nation of just 3.5 million people, has been investing heavily in its aviation sector to support its goal of becoming a major tourism hub.

A leader in aerospace, defense and cybersecurity sectors, Paris-based Thales employs more than 85,000 people in 65 countries. It reported sales of €22.1 billion ($25.2 billion) last year.

The country has three airlines — MIAT Mongolian Airlines, Hunnu Air and Aero Mongolia.

The aviation sector employs some 7,000 people, generating direct economic benefit worth just under US$500 million annually, or roughly 2.5% of the national GDP.

Images are courtesy of Thales.

Airbus, MTU plan hydrogen fuel cell engine to cut emissions

07 Tuesday Jul 2026

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Hydrogen-powered fuel cell engine. © MTU 2026

TOULOUSE, France – Airbus and MTU Aero Engines have formed a joint venture to develop and commercialize a fully electric hydrogen fuel cell propulsion system, the European aircraft manufacturer announced Tuesday, as the industry seeks to reduce its carbon emissions.

The agreement follows a Memorandum of Understanding the parties signed at the Paris Air Show last year, Airbus added.

The company has been pursuing a multi-pronged strategy to reduce aviation emissions through more fuel-efficient aircraft, greater use of sustainable aviation fuel, hydrogen propulsion, advanced aerodynamics and improved operational efficiency.

Hydrogen-powered fuel cell engine mounted on an aircraft. ©MTU 2026

Commercial aviation generates about 2.5% of global carbon dioxide emissions, but its overall contribution to climate change is estimated at 3.5% to 4% when non-CO₂ effects such as contrails are taken into account.

The figures are based on a 2021 study published in Atmospheric Environment and cited by the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change.

“By establishing a dedicated and highly agile organizational set-up, the partners aim to accelerate technology development, design, testing and certification of a revolutionary propulsion system for aviation based on a hydrogen fuel cell,” Airbus said. “The new entity will be supported by Airbus and MTU with all their competences and through various engineering and manufacturing teams from both organizations.”

The joint venture is expected to start operations next year, although the deal is non-binding and subject to regulatory approvals, Airbus said.

Stefan Weber, senior vice president of engineering and technology at MTU, described the initiative as a key step toward developing the company’s first hydrogen-powered aircraft engine.

He said the project demonstrates Europe’s technological leadership in hydrogen propulsion and supports MTU’s ambition to establish a business spanning the entire fuel cell powertrain life cycle, from development and testing to certification and commercial deployment.

Airbus projects include this fuel cell-powered ZEROe aircraft. © Airbus 2026

Hydrogen fuel cells generate electricity through an electrochemical reaction between hydrogen and oxygen, producing only water vapor as a by-product. The technology could eliminate inflight CO₂ and nitrogen oxide emissions.

Early last year, Airbus said it would focus its hydrogen research on a fully electric fuel cell propulsion system after prototype and powertrain testing validated the technology’s potential.

Industry: Return of supersonic flights now ‘inevitable’

02 Thursday Jul 2026

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Boom Supersonic’s demonstrator aircraft, the XB-1.

WASHINGTON – The industry is welcoming a Federal Aviation Administration proposal to lift the ban on supersonic civilian flights in the U.S., with one executive declaring that that “the return of supersonic is inevitable” 23 years after the Concorde flew for the last time.

The FAA move was announced this week by U.S. Transportation Secretary Sean P. Duffy.

He said advances in supersonic technology will allow the next generation of aircraft to fly safely without producing a sonic boom.

“Restoring supersonic flight over land isn’t just about speed, it’s about unleashing American innovation and ushering in a Golden Age of Travel,” Duffy said.

The FAA noted in its proposal that current regulations prohibit civil aircraft from flying faster than the speed of sound over the U.S. unless they receive special authorization from the agency. The restriction is intended to protect the public from sonic booms.

Supersonic flight begins at Mach 1, or about 770 mph (1,240 km/h), significantly faster than the typical cruising speed of commercial airliners, which ranges from about 550 to 600 mph.

The FAA aims to finalize the rule by the middle of next year.

Blake Scholl, the founder and CEO of Boom Supersonic, which is developing a supersonic aircraft called Overture, quickly welcomed the government proposal.

Blake Scholl

“It’s time to get excited. The return of supersonic is inevitable,” Scholl wrote on LinkedIn.

Boom’s demonstrator aircraft, the XB-1, made history in January 2025 by becoming the first independently developed civil aircraft to successfully break the sound barrier.

Scholl said the FAA had specifically cited the XB-1’s demonstration of the boomless supersonic flight.

The first Overture commercial flight is scheduled for 2029. Boom has won firm orders or options for the aircraft from United Airlines, American Airlines and Japan Airlines.

The previous supersonic aircraft, the Concorde, was operated by Air France and British Airways during 1976-2003. A British Airways Concorde made the final commercial flight from New York to London on Oct. 24, 2003.

Images are courtesy of Boom Supersonic and FAA.

Gulfstream celebrates ‘farthest fastest’ business flight

02 Thursday Jul 2026

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SAVANNAH, Ga. – Gulfstream Aerospace Corp. announced Wednesday that a G800 had completed “the farthest fastest flight in business aviation history” earlier in the week.

The aircraft flew from Melbourne, Australia, to Moline, Ill., covering 8,303 nautical miles (15,377 kilometers), in 16 hours and 56 minutes at an average cruise speed of Mach 0.85.

For context, Bombardier’s Global 8000 boasts a top speed of Mach 0.95 and a range of 8,000 nm.

Earlier in June, the G800 had secured the 800th city pair speed record with a flight from Reykjavik, Iceland, to Savannah, the company said. The aircraft traveled 2,973 nm in 5 hours and 52 minutes at Mach 0.91.

“With every new aircraft, Gulfstream continues to push the boundaries of performance for our customers,” said Mark Burns, president of Gulfstream.

“Reaching our 800th city pair speed record and completing the farthest fastest flight in our industry’s history demonstrates the strength of our next-generation fleet and the advanced capabilities of the G800.”

The G800, powered by Rolls-Royce Pearl 700 engines, entered service in August 2025 following certifications from American and European regulators.

All images are courtesy of Gulfstream.