AirBaltic files for Chapter 11 bankruptcy to restructure finances

14 Monday Sep 2026

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AirBaltic says operations will continue as normal despite the bankruptcy proceedings. Photo: AirBaltic.

RIGA, Latvia – Latvian airline airBaltic said Monday it has voluntarily filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection in the United States as it seeks to restructure its financial obligations while continuing to operate normally.

The airline and certain subsidiaries filed proceedings in U.S. Bankruptcy Court for the Southern District of New York.

AirBaltic said all flights are operating as scheduled and that tickets and reservations remain valid. Passengers can continue to book and travel with the airline as usual, and customer service will continue without interruption.

The airline has secured a commitment for 350 million euros (about $405 million) in debtor-in-possession financing arranged by Strategic Value Partners to provide liquidity and support operations during the Chapter 11 process.

The financing carries an interest rate of approximately 12% and is intended to provide liquidity during the restructuring, the airline said.

The restructuring is intended to create a stronger capital structure, a more competitive cost position and a sustainable financial foundation, it added.

AirBaltic said the process will allow it to address its financial obligations, including commitments involving aircraft lessors and other stakeholders. The company expects to complete the process by June 2027.

The Latvian government has an 88% stake in airBaltic, while Lufthansa holds 10%. The remainder is held by private shareholders.

The airline is the single-largest operator of Airbus A220-300 jets, with more than 50 aircraft in its fleet.

Archer eVTOL completes 65-km piloted roundtrip between California airports

08 Tuesday Sep 2026

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The Midnight completed the piloted roundtrip Friday. Photo: Archer Aviation.

SALINAS, Calif. – Archer Aviation’s Midnight electric vertical takeoff and landing aircraft has completed a piloted roundtrip flight between Salinas and Hollister, Calif., covering more than 40 miles (65 km), the company said Tuesday.

The Midnight flew Friday between Salinas Municipal Airport and Hollister Municipal Airport in about 12 minutes each way, reaching a top speed of 125 mph and cruising at 3,550 feet, Archer said.

Photo: Archer Aviation.

The flight was the first stop on Archer’s “No Roads” tour, which is intended to demonstrate the aircraft’s ability to connect cities by air and showcase potential routes for electric air taxis.

Archer plans to continue the tour with flights to Monterey, San Martin, San Jose, Oakland and San Francisco before expanding to Los Angeles and other states.

The company is conducting the flights in coordination with the Federal Aviation Administration as it prepares for future operations under a federal eVTOL pilot program.

The Midnight is a four-passenger electric aircraft designed for short urban and regional trips with zero operating emissions.

The flight comes as electric aviation moves toward larger aircraft.

In August, Heart Aerospace completed the first flight of its X1 demonstrator, which it described as the largest battery-electric aircraft to fly. The aircraft flew for 27 minutes at an altitude of 1,100 feet, demonstrating an all-electric propulsion system that delivered more than 1 megawatt of power.

Trump targets Bombardier; Quebec vows to defend its companies

07 Monday Sep 2026

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The unveiling of Bombardier Global 6500 at EBACE 2018 in Geneva. Photo: Abdul Latheef.

WASHINGTON/MONTREAL – Claiming “their products aren’t good enough,” U.S. President Donald Trump on Monday threatened to block Canadian business jet maker Bombardier from selling airplanes in the country unless the aircraft are built in America.

Trump’s Truth Social post came amid a deteriorating trade war, with Canadian retaliatory tariffs due to go into effect Tuesday.

Quebec-based Bombardier is a key player in the U.S. business aviation market, the world’s largest. It also operates a specialty defense-related manufacturing facility in Kansas and service centers across the country, employing thousands of Americans.

Quebec defends Bombardier

Christine Fréchette: We will defend our companies. Photo: Govt. of Quebec.

Quebec Premier Christine Fréchette wrote on X that she “will not respond to provocation with provocation.”

She called Bombardier “a source of pride for Quebec” and noted that the company employs thousands of Quebecers.

She added that she had reached out to Bombardier CEO Éric Martel to offer him support.

“Quebec will not allow anyone to dictate where our companies must produce in order to access a market,” Fréchette wrote. “We will defend our companies, our workers, and our expertise with resolve.”

Bombardier said in a statement late Monday that it employs thousands of Americans and supports tens of thousands of U.S. jobs through its operations and supply chain.

The company spends more than $2.5 billion annually with U.S. suppliers, making it a significant contributor to the American aerospace industry, the company said.

“Bombardier values its great partnership with American companies and its U.S. employees,” the statement continued. “Our plan is to continue to invest in our people, our customers and the communities in which we operate across the country.

It was not immediately clear how Trump could enforce a sales ban as the aerospace industry is highly integrated.

ICAO seeks to strengthen air connectivity to boost global economy

05 Saturday Sep 2026

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The UN agency will host the seventh Worldwide Air Transport Conference in Montreal in November. Photo: ICAO.

MONTREAL – The International Civil Aviation Organization has urged governments to strengthen international air connectivity, warning that service disruptions and gaps between markets threaten economic growth and supply chains.

The UN aviation agency is making the case ahead of the seventh Worldwide Air Transport Conference in November, the first such gathering in more than a decade.

Image: ICAO.

The conference will seek agreement among governments, regulators and industry leaders on reforms to the global economic framework for aviation.

International aviation carries more than a third of the world’s trade by value and is critical to trade, investment, tourism and workforce mobility, ICAO said Friday.

But smaller markets and emerging economies often face higher costs, less frequent service and less reliable connections. The disparity was worsened by the COVID-19 pandemic, when lower-density markets generally recovered more slowly and some air links disappeared.

ICAO said outdated international air service agreements, many of which were designed to protect national carriers, can restrict market access and competition. Airport congestion, limited slots and lengthy landing permit approvals can also hinder the launch of new services.

Low-density routes are particularly vulnerable because airlines tend to prioritize markets with stable demand and predictable revenues, the agency said.

ICAO is calling for broader market access, greater competition and closer cooperation among governments on aviation, customs and border policies. It also supports streamlined approvals, more flexible visa regimes and partnerships such as codesharing to help airlines serve more markets.

The agency said governments also need to update regulatory frameworks to accommodate new technologies and business models while supporting long-term investment.

The November conference is part of ICAO’s effort to advance its vision of air transport for all by 2050.

India’s FLY91 orders 40 ATR 72-600s

04 Friday Sep 2026

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ATR said the FLY91 order for 40 aircraft is its largest in almost a decade. Photo: ATR.

NEW DELHI – Indian regional airline FLY91 is buying 40 ATR 72-600 turboprop aircraft in a deal valued at about $1 billion, as the country’s rapidly expanding aviation sector creates new opportunities for domestic connectivity, the Franco-Italian airplane manufacturer said Thursday.

FLY91 said in a separate release that the firm order is the largest for ATR aircraft globally by a regional airline, while ATR said it is its largest firm order in almost a decade. Deliveries are scheduled from 2027.

The agreement will support a major expansion by FLY91, which launched operations less than three years ago. The Goa-based airline plans to grow its fleet from six aircraft to 60 over the next five years as it expands its regional network across India.

FLY91 said the order will provide the scale to build a larger network connecting more unserved and underserved cities. The airline currently operates about 280 weekly flights to 12 cities, with a 13th destination scheduled to begin later this month.

India’s regional aviation expansion requires aircraft capable of operating short routes efficiently while keeping fares affordable, ATR said. The ATR 72-600 is suited to routes linking Tier 2 and Tier 3 cities, where demand for air travel is growing.

Deliveries of the new aircraft are expected to begin next year. Photo: ATR.

FLY91 Chairman Harsha Raghavan said the order reflects the airline’s confidence in India’s growth and the potential of regional aviation.

Founder and CEO Manoj Chacko said the ATR 72-600 offers the operating economics needed for FLY91’s network and that the order will serve as a catalyst for its next phase of expansion.

ATR CEO Nathalie Tarnaud Laude said FLY91’s commitment reflects the growing role of regional aviation in connecting India’s next generation of travelers.

ATR, based in Toulouse, France, is a joint venture between European aircraft maker Airbus and Italian aerospace company Leonardo.

The FLY91 agreement takes ATR’s 2026 order intake to 54 aircraft, already exceeding its total net orders for all of 2025.

Mississauga pays tribute to an icon

03 Thursday Sep 2026

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Photo: Abdul Latheef.

MISSISSAUGA, Ont. – A replica of the legendary Avro Arrow CF-105 supersonic interceptor was unveiled this week in Malton, Mississauga, where the aircraft was designed and built almost 70 years ago.

The CF-105 was considered a major Canadian engineering achievement, but just five were built before the program was abruptly canceled in 1959. That decision remains controversial to this day.

Mississauga has since grown into a major aerospace hub, and is home to Canada’s largest airport, Toronto Pearson International. The city’s mayor said the replica is aimed at preserving an important part of its heritage.

Embraer E-Jet family enters the Top 3 club with 2,000th delivery

02 Wednesday Sep 2026

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The 2,000th Embraer E-Jet was delivered to Azul Linhas Aéreas. Photo: Embraer.

SÃO JOSÉ DOS CAMPOS, Brazil – Embraer’s E-Jet program has entered the ranks of the world’s three largest commercial jet families with the delivery of its 2,000th aircraft, the company said Wednesday.

The E-Jet family is behind only the Airbus A320 and Boeing 737 families in terms of aircraft delivered. The milestone aircraft, an E195-E2, was delivered to Azul Linhas Aéreas, Brazil’s largest airline by number of destinations served.

Photo: Embraer.

Since entering service in 2004, the E-Jets family has established a global presence, serving more than 90 airlines worldwide. The fleet has accumulated about 48 million flight hours and carried more than 2.85 billion passengers worldwide.

“The delivery of the 2,000th E-Jet is an extraordinary milestone for Embraer and for the global aviation transport industry,” Arjan Meijer, president and CEO of Embraer Commercial Aviation, said in a statement.

“As one of the world’s three most successful commercial jet programs, the E-Jets family has played a vital role in connecting communities, opening new markets, and creating sustainable growth opportunities for airlines,” Meijer added.

Azul has operated more than 140 E-Jets since beginning operations in 2008 and was the launch customer for the E195-E2, taking delivery of its first aircraft in 2019.

Embraer and Azul executives celebrate the milestone. Photo. Embraer.

The 2,000th E-Jet also marks Azul’s 50th E2 aircraft, Embraer said.

The E-Jet family comprises the first-generation E170, E175, E190 and E195, as well as the second-generation E190-E2 and E195-E2.

The program has enabled Embraer to expand beyond its traditional regional aviation market and establish a strong position in the global small narrowbody segment.

Bombardier strengthens supply chain by acquiring Mitsubishi’s Canadian assets

01 Tuesday Sep 2026

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The Bombardier Global 5500. Photo: Bombardier.

MONTREAL – Bombardier is acquiring the assets of Mitsubishi Heavy Industries Canada Aerospace Inc., based in Mississauga, Ont., close to its final assembly center for Global business jets, strengthening its manufacturing footprint and supply chain, the company said Tuesday. No financial details were disclosed.

MHICA makes aerostructures such as wings for Global 5500 and 6500 aircraft. Photo: MHICA.

The acquisition builds on Bombardier’s longstanding industrial relationship with MHICA, which has supported multiple projects including the Global 5500 and 6500 programs.

The deal will add MHICA’s manufacturing capabilities and about 750 employees to Bombardier, further strengthening its in-house aerostructures capabilities, resilience and autonomy, the company said.

“This agreement represents a key step in Bombardier’s long-term growth strategy, strengthening critical capabilities, enhancing operational resilience and supporting the company’s flexibility to meet growing customer demand,” said David Murray, Bombardier’s executive vice president of manufacturing and supply chain execution.

Hiroyuki Koguchi, executive vice president and head of commercial aviation systems at MHI, said the agreement recognizes the contributions of local employees and ensures a strong future for the workforce, whose skills and expertise have been central to the company’s success.

The acquisition is subject to customary closing conditions and regulatory approvals, Bombardier said.

MapQuest surges to top of app charts after refusing to rename Lake Ontario

31 Monday Aug 2026

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Users can generate their own names for Lake Ontario, using MapQuest’s interactive tool. Image: MapQuest.

LOS ANGELES – MapQuest has surged to the top of Apple’s U.S. navigation app rankings after the mapping service decided not to rename Lake Ontario “Lake America,” following President Donald Trump’s executive order, the company said Monday.

MapQuest said its app reached No. 1 among navigation apps and No. 8 among all free apps in the U.S. Apple App Store, with downloads surging since Thursday when Trump signed the order.

The company attributed the surge to its decision to keep the original names of lakes and gulfs on its maps.

“We took the same approach we did with the Gulf of Mexico: be part of the conversation, and give people an app that keeps the names they’re familiar with,” MapQuest General Manager Doug Berger said in a statement.

Trump’s order applies to U.S. federal geographic naming and does not change Canada’s designation of the lake. Google Maps has adopted the new name for users in the United States.

Mark Carney’s statement posted on X.

The decision has resonated particularly strongly in Canada, where political leaders have rejected the U.S. renaming.

Prime Minister Mark Carney said the name Lake Ontario is more than 400 years old and predates both Canadian Confederation and the founding of the United States.

“Canadians also know that naming reality means calling it Lake Ontario — then, now and always,” Carney said.

MapQuest also expanded a feature that allows users to create their own names for Lake Ontario and generate a customized image.

The company first introduced the feature last year during the controversy over the U.S. renaming of the Gulf of Mexico.

MapQuest was launched in 1996, years before Google Maps, and is owned by System1. The company says its mapping services are used by tens of millions of people each month.

Global air passenger traffic returns to growth

31 Monday Aug 2026

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GENEVA – Global air passenger traffic returned to growth in July after three consecutive months of contraction, although the recovery was modest as the industry continued to feel the effects of the Iran war, according to the International Air Transport Association.

Chart: IATA.

Passenger traffic, measured in revenue passenger-kilometers, rose 0.2% from a year earlier, IATA said Monday. The increase followed declines in April, May and June.

Airlines added 0.3% more capacity in July, while the global passenger load factor slipped 0.1 percentage point from a year earlier to 85.2%.

International passenger demand fell 0.1% year over year, while domestic traffic increased 0.6%. Excluding carriers in the Middle East, international demand would have increased 1.5%, IATA said.

“Overall growth of 0.2% in July was achieved despite year-on-year collective declines by carriers in North America and the Middle East,” IATA Senior Vice President and Chief Economist Marie Owens Thomsen said.

She said traffic through Gulf hubs continued to recover, while airlines remained confident about demand despite high fuel prices, economic uncertainty and geopolitical tensions.

Airlines are planning to increase seat capacity by almost 3% in September, IATA said.

Regional results varied widely. European airlines recorded a 3.1% increase in international demand, while Latin American and African carriers posted gains of 7.1% and 6.4%, respectively.

Photo: IATA.

North American carriers reported a 2.3% decline in international demand, while Middle Eastern airlines saw demand fall 9.5%. Asia-Pacific carriers recorded a 0.7% decline.

Passenger traffic between Europe and Asia grew 12.1%, the strongest increase among major international routes, according to IATA.

Domestic traffic rose 0.6% globally, with China and Brazil posting strong gains. Demand declined in the United States, Australia and India.

IATA represents more than 370 airlines that account for about 85% of scheduled air traffic.

United Airlines unveils largest international expansion

25 Tuesday Aug 2026

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The Airbus A321XLR was on display at the Farnborough International Airshow last month. Photo: Abdul Latheef.

NEWARK, N.J. – United Airlines is embarking on its largest international expansion, adding 10 destinations in Europe and Asia for summer 2027, with its new Airbus A321XLR aircraft set to operate some of the new routes, the airline announced Tuesday.

Eight of the new destinations will have no other U.S. airline offering nonstop service, according to United.

The A321XLR, which United calls its “Born to Explore” aircraft, will be deployed on new routes from Newark to Luxembourg City, Ibiza, Valencia and Marseille, and from Washington Dulles to Toulouse.

The Airbus A321XLR was a top attraction at the Farnborough International Airshow last month. Photo: Abdul Latheef.

United plans to begin flying the A321XLR on select domestic routes in September before putting it into international service Dec. 1 on flights from Washington Dulles to Amsterdam and Dublin.

The aircraft features 32 premium seats, including 20 United Polaris suites and 12 United Premium Plus seats.

Photo: Abdul Latheef.

United said it also will feature a Polaris suite with a privacy door, Starlink Wi-Fi for MileagePlus members, 4K OLED screens and redesigned Economy Plus seating.

The new destinations are San Francisco to Okinawa, Japan; Newark to Luxembourg City, Luxembourg; Washington Dulles to Toulouse, France; Newark to Ljubljana, Slovenia; Newark to Olbia, Sardinia; Newark to Catania, Sicily; Newark to Ibiza, Spain; Newark to Valencia, Spain; Newark to Marseille, France; and Newark to Terceira in Portugal’s Azores.

United also plans new flights to destinations it already serves, including daily service from Los Angeles to Osaka, Japan; three-times-weekly service from Washington Dulles to Milan; and daily service from Denver to Paris.

United said it has added 58 international destinations since 2017 and now serves more than 160 international destinations.

Tuesday’s announcement came a week after United said it had completed the first phase of an expansion of its pilot training center in Denver.

The airline said it has hired more than 9,500 pilots since announcing its United Next growth strategy in 2021.

All new routes are subject to government approval.

JetBlue to open second BlueHouse lounge

24 Monday Aug 2026

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The Boston BlueHouse will be the airline’s second airport lounge. Photo: JetBlue.

BOSTON – JetBlue Airways Corp. said Monday it will open its second BlueHouse airport lounge this week at Boston Logan International Airport, expanding its premium lounge offering and access for customers traveling in its Mint cabin.

Photo: JetBlue.

The 12,000-square-foot lounge in Terminal C is scheduled to open Thursday morning.

The lounge is designed around the character of Boston and greater New England, with residential touches, local materials, copper accents and curated artwork.

JetBlue said complimentary lounge access also will expand to customers departing on confirmed Mint or Mint Flex fares, including domestic and international flights.

It comprises a central bar, dining rooms, work areas, quiet spaces and high-speed Wi-Fi.

The Boston location follows the opening of JetBlue’s first BlueHouse at New York’s John F. Kennedy International Airport in December.

JetBlue has described BlueHouse as a signature benefit for its most loyal customers and premium travelers. The lounges are part of the airline’s broader strategy to provide more premium, customer-focused experiences.

JetBlue flies to more than 100 destinations in the U.S., Latin America, the Caribbean, Canada and Europe. The airline identifies Boston as its second-largest focus city.

Mitsubishi-led consortium to build world’s largest airport people mover in Dubai

21 Friday Aug 2026

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The 50-km people mover will be ready by 2031. Photo: Mitsubishi Heavy Industries.

TOKYO – A consortium led by Mitsubishi Heavy Industries will build the world’s largest automated airport people mover, a 50-kilometer system that will connect nine stations at Dubai’s planned Al Maktoum International Airport, the company said Thursday.

The system will be built as part of the first phase of development of the airport in the United Arab Emirates. Completion is scheduled for December 2031.

Image: L&T.

MHI and its Dubai-based subsidiary, MHI Mobility Engineering Services, will lead the consortium that includes Indian conglomerate Larsen & Toubro.

The consortium will provide 165 automated people mover vehicles and the signaling system, along with system integration and other infrastructure.

Dubai Aviation City Corp., a Dubai government entity, awarded the contract to the consortium. No financial details were disclosed.

APM systems are used worldwide to connect airport terminals, provide transportation in areas near airports and serve as urban transportation systems.

Among the world’s largest airport APM systems currently in operation are Skylink at Dallas Fort Worth International Airport in the United States, which has the longest route at about 8 kilometers, and the Plane Train at Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport, also in the U.S. It is the world’s most heavily traveled airport APM, carrying about 91 million passengers annually.

The new Dubai system will connect terminals and other major airport facilities. Al Maktoum International is planned to become a major international aviation hub, with the airport targeted to eventually handle 260 million passengers annually.

MHI already provides automated people mover systems and services in Dubai.

The company completed an automated people mover system at Terminal 3 of Dubai International Airport in 2012 and continues to provide operations and maintenance services there through MHI Mobility Engineering Services.

MHI also provides transportation infrastructure in Dubai through Keolis MHI Rail Management and Operation, which operates and maintains the Dubai Metro.

GKN Aerospace unveils UAV demonstrator

21 Friday Aug 2026

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The UAV demonstrator. Photo: GKN Aerospace.

BIRMINGHAM, United Kingdom – GKN Aerospace on Friday unveiled an uncrewed aerial vehicle (UAV) demonstrator, less than a year after launching a program with Sweden to develop the aircraft and a dedicated turbojet engine.

The company said the demonstrator represents the first public presentation of the platform and brings together propulsion, aerostructures and systems integration expertise from Sweden, the Netherlands and the United Kingdom.

“One year ago, this was an idea and an ambition. Today, we are unveiling the first tangible result of that work. That achievement reflects close collaboration with FMV, the Swedish Armed Forces and the combined expertise of teams across GKN Aerospace,” said Joakim Andersson, President of Engines.

The initiative was announced in November under an 18-month program with the Swedish Defence Materiel Administration, known as FMV. It calls for development of a clean-sheet UAV demonstrator and dedicated turbojet engine.

The program includes development of the engine, airframe and onboard systems. GKN said the demonstrator is designed as a flexible platform for testing and evaluation and will provide experience in developing, integrating and manufacturing complex aerospace systems on accelerated timelines.

A full-scale mock-up of the UAV and its dedicated turbojet engine is being displayed at the Armed Forces Air Venture 2026 as part of the Swedish Air Force’s centenary celebrations.

UAV development has become an increasing focus of defence programs as militaries seek systems that can be developed and adapted more quickly.

GKN already supports UAV and remotely piloted aircraft programs and supplies structures and other components for uncrewed aircraft.

The Canadian government said in July that it had launched a Defence Drone Initiative to accelerate the development, testing and production of Canadian uncrewed and autonomous systems for the Canadian Armed Forces and Canadian Coast Guard.

United Airlines expands ‘world’s largest’ pilot training center

20 Thursday Aug 2026

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The United Flight Training Center in Denver has 860 CAE training equipment. Photo: United Airlines.

DENVER – United Airlines said Thursday it has completed the first phase of an expansion of what it calls the world’s largest pilot training facility, adding capacity as the U.S. carrier continues to grow amid a surging global demand for more pilots.

The United Flight Training Center now has 86 CAE training equipment, including 52 full-motion flight simulators and 34 fixed training devices.

The facility can train up to 860 pilots a day and conduct more than 32,000 training events annually, the airline said.

Boeing’s 2026 Pilot and Technician Outlook projects the global commercial aviation industry will need about 674,000 new pilots over the next 20 years.

The 22-acre United facility has eight buildings and nearly 700,000 square feet of training space, equivalent to about 12 football fields. It is the sole training facility for United’s nearly 18,000 active pilots and all newly hired pilots.

United has hired more than 9,500 pilots, including 700 this year, since announcing its United Next growth strategy in 2021. The airline plans to hire hundreds more in the coming months.

Image: United Airlines.

The second phase of the Denver training center expansion is expected to begin next year and be operational around 2030.

United has invested $370 million in the center since 2016, including more than $145 million for a new building that opened in 2024.

Operating a fleet of more than 1,000 aircraft, United flies to over 350 destinations worldwide.