The UK Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) has today launched a consultation on a shortlist of regulatory models that could apply to capacity expansion at Heathrow Airport.

Professor Malcolm Macdonald FRAeS assumes the Presidency of the Royal Aeronautical Society (RAeS) - the oldest aeronautical society in the world and the only professional body dedicated to the entire aerospace community - taking up the post of President following the formal announcement at the Society’s AGM this month.

Farnborough Airport has announced the installation of a striking aviation-inspired sculpture in partnership with The Sculpture Park, Farnham, which will be on display at the Airport from early May through to the beginning of August 2026.

The National Police Air Service (NPAS) has welcomed confirmation from the UK Minister of State for Policing and Crime that funding has been approved for two additional brand-new police helicopters to complement its National Fleet Replacement Programme (FRP).

K3Metrology, a UK spin-out from the National Physical Laboratory (NPL), has secured a £2.75 million seed investment led by the UK Innovation & Science Seed Fund (UKI2S), to commercialise a new generation of large-scale measurement technology designed to improve efficiency and reduce delays in advanced manufacturing and aerospace.

European airport trade body ACI EUROPE today released its traffic report for March and the first quarter of 2026.

Malvern based D-RisQ Ltd has been selected by SMD to accelerate development of their autonomy programme.

A bumper Easter getaway helped London Stansted record its busiest ever April as the airport welcomed more than 2.6m passengers during the month.

Expanding its time-critical logistics portfolio, Chapman Freeborn OBC is launching Next Flight Out (NFO), a new premium service designed to complement its established on-board courier expertise and provide clients with greater flexibility for urgent international shipments.

Red Hat today announced it is helping EUROCONTROL deliver a unified digital platform to enhance organisational resilience and accelerate innovation in air traffic management, replacing 25-year-old legacy systems using Red Hat OpenShift.

Business development consultancy Intralink, has been appointed by Silicon Valley battery specialist Amprius Technologies, to deepen its presence in South Korea, one of Asia’s most active markets for drones, robotics and advanced mobility.

Trafford & Stockport College Group and Manchester Airports Group (MAG) are celebrating after winning a prestigious Educate North Award (ENA), recognising the success of the Manchester Airport Skills Hub partnership.

Airports Health and Safety Week was launched today at Luton Airport and will be taking place at sites up and down the country until Friday 15th May.

The New Model Institute for Technology and Engineering (NMITE)  celebrated the achievements of its second cohort of 20 students at Hereford Cathedral on 9th May, who graduated with either a BEng (Hons) or MEng (Hons) Integrated Engineering degree, with companies such as Airbus and BAE Systems among those now hiring NMITE ...

April passenger numbers decreased by 5% year on year to 6.7 million, reflecting the ongoing impact of the Middle East conflict on some markets and short-term adjustments to travel plans, yet underlying demand remained resilient, with strong transfer passenger demand continuing into April with a 10% increase year on year.

Britten-Norman has delivered a BN2T-4S Islander to Xen Aviation & Services Inc. (Xen Aviation), marking the operator’s introduction of its first Islander aircraft as it prepares to launch regional operations in Guyana.

Andover based LEDsynergy, a long-established UK manufacturer of LED display solutions, has announced a strategic manufacturing partnership with India’s LED display manufacturer LEDX Technology, marking a significant step forward in its global production strategy.

UK based designer and manufacturer of high-tech ergonomic optical and digital inspection, metrology systems and bespoke engineering solutions, Vision Engineering Group, has revealed its expansive showcase for the upcoming Smart Factory Expo, taking place next month at the NEC in Birmingham from 3rd-4th June 2026.

Amazon has begun conducting drone parcel delivery flights out of its Darlington fulfilment centre in County Durham, with the northern town becoming the first location in the UK from which the retailer has launched Prime Air services using the MK30, Amazon's most advanced drone yet.

The Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) has made changes to the air traffic services licence held by NATS, with the new regulatory framework enabling NATS to begin delivering the UK Airspace Design Service (UKADS), establishing new responsibilities for NATS in airspace design and coordination, alongside arrangements to support airports in progressing ...

Malaysia’s AirAsia has placed an order for 150 latest generation A220-300 aircraft, which is the largest single firm order placed for the A220 and propels the programme beyond the 1,000 firm order milestone.

Voyant today announced the appointment of James Norwood as Chief Executive Officer (CEO).

Horsham based Weald Electronics Ltd, a major UK manufacturer of electrical connectors and accessories for defence and demanding industrial applications established on 27th April 1976, is celebrating its 50th anniversary.

Cross Manufacturing has announced that its Devizes North site has successfully achieved AS9100 certification, completing a key stage of the company’s strategic expansion to support customers in the aerospace and defence sectors.

Skyports Infrastructure (Skyports) welcomed multiple point-to-point eVTOL flights to Downtown Skyport - New York’s first - during Joby’s '2026 Electric Skies Tour' New York City Flight Campaign, which took place between 23rd April - 1st May 2026.

Drone deliveries, flying taxis and smarter emergency services could be a step closer to use in UK skies, as the Government awards almost £50 million to unlock growth in the drone and advanced air mobility sector today, whilst also aiming to crack down on the illegal uses of drones.

Manchester based EDM Ltd, which designs and manufactures advanced training simulators for the civil aviation and defence sectors, has announced the opening of a new manufacturing facility in Malaysia.

Viasat today announced L2 Aviation has joined its Velaris ecosystem via Galaxy 1 Communications, bringing advanced avionics integration and certification expertise to Advanced Air Mobility (AAM) and uncrewed aviation.

The National Police Air Service (NPAS) supported South Wales Police during a targeted operation in Swansea and Neath Port Talbot to tackle the illegal and anti‑social use of electric bikes and motorbikes.

A new guide has been published by Made Smarter to help manufacturers cut through the noise around artificial intelligence (AI) and focus on what actually works on the factory floor.

Hexagon announced yesterday the successful completion of the acquisition of Inertial Sense, strengthening its assured positioning, navigation and timing (PNT) portfolio with tactical-grade GNSS+INS technology.

Bolton based Beldam Crossley Limited has been honoured with a King’s Award for Enterprise: International Trade, recognising the company’s outstanding short-term growth in overseas sales.

Weston College and University Centre Weston (UCW) have announced plans for an exciting new Skills Academy in the aerospace & Defence space, located at Airbus Filton, Bristol.

Rolls-Royce has been selected by LATAM Airlines to power three Boeing 787 Dreamliners with Trent 1000 XE engines.

Weston College has been named as one of the country’s new Technical Excellence Colleges (TECs), securing a pivotal role in delivering high-quality training for the next generation of workers in advanced manufacturing.

Loganair has secured a new multiyear contract for the provision of personnel transportation flights between Aberdeen and Sumburgh in support of bp’s North Sea operations.

International Air Transport Association (IATA) data for March 2026 shows global passenger demand up 2.1%, as cargo demand falls by 4.8% due to disruption in the Middle East.

A medical evacuation system designed and delivered jointly by NODIN Aviation and Marshall Aerospace will remain in operational use under an extended agreement between Scandinavian Airlines (SAS) and the Norwegian Armed Forces.

According to trade association ADS, commercial aircraft orders rose 9% during the first quarter of 2026 compared to this period last year, reaching 569 orders and marking the highest order number for any Q1 since 2013, largely driven by a 25% increase in single-aisle aircraft orders, indicating that demand for short-haul travel continues to grow.

Regional & City Airports (RCA) has reported a strong full-year performance across its UK portfolio, with total passenger numbers rising by 23% year-on-year to more than 2.43 million in the 12 months to 31st March 2026.

A major breakthrough in tackling both waste plastic and aviation emissions has been marked with the opening of the world’s first waste plastics to Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF) pilot facility.

Smiths Detection today announced that its SDX 10080 SCT has received ECAC EDS Standard 3.1 approval for hold baggage and air cargo screening - one of the most rigorous aviation security certifications, recognised across 44 ECAC member states spanning Europe and beyond.

Glasgow Airport successfully hosted a multiagency emergency training exercise on Thursday 23rd April, carried out between 7.30pm and 11.30pm, as part of its ongoing commitment to safety, resilience and emergency preparedness.

Aurrigo International, provider of autonomy software, fully autonomous vehicles and mobile robotics platforms, has made the high-profile appointment of Mark Gower in the newly created (non-board) role of Director of Global Airport Operations.

March had the busiest day of the year so far, for flights taking off from, landing into and flying through UK airspace.

Prize winners of London Luton Airport’s (LLA) ‘Reach for the Sky’ school competition, took to the skies for a once-in-a-lifetime trip on Cranfield University’s Saab340B National Flying Laboratory Centre (NFLC).

Edinburgh Airport delivered £2.7 billion of economic value to Scotland in 2025 and supported almost 44,000 jobs, according to a new independent economic impact report.

Heathrow has revealed the 12 winners of its annual World of Opportunity (WOO) competition, showcasing the breadth of innovation and ambition that underpins Britain’s export economy.

Factory automation specialist FANUC has named Andy Armstrong as the new Managing Director of FANUC UK and FANUC Ireland, effective immediately.

Britten-Norman has delivered a key milestone in its collaboration with World Mobile Stratospheric, with the BN2T-4S Islander aircraft supporting the programme now prepared for the next phase of system integration.

Bristol Airport has announced the next phase of funding of the Aviation Carbon Transition (ACT) Programme, a pioneering initiative designed to fast-track decarbonisation projects targeting Scope 3 emissions from flight and transport.

The first of 30 Airbus A321XLRs for Canada’s flag carrier Air Canada, has been delivered.

UK Export Finance (UKEF) – the government’s export credit agency – has announced a new partnership with Finance for Forces to help more veteran-led businesses access the finance they need to grow internationally.

Boeing and Ontic have announced a new distribution agreement at MRO Americas to supply Grimes engine valves to commercial airlines worldwide, pairing Boeing Distribution’s global reach with Ontic’s manufacturing to shorten lead times and improve aircraft readiness.

On World Pilot Day (Sunday 26th April) air ambulance pilots are teaming up with the UK Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) to urge drone users to fly responsibly after emergency helicopter flights were disrupted by drones during lifesaving missions in 2025.

Cranfield University has been selected to play a key role in a major UK research initiative aimed at improving the understanding of aviation’s non CO₂ climate impacts.

Ontic has introduced a new teardown procurement initiative to address one of the industry's most persistent challenges, namely the availability of hard-to-source components for established platforms.

Provider of fully autonomous vehicles and mobile robotics platforms, Aurrigo, has announced the opening of its new UK Hub facility, marking a major milestone in the company’s growth and manufacturing capability.

Chapman Freeborn has strengthened its European passenger division with new leadership appointments aimed at supporting growth across the region.

Aerospace Bristol has appointed Lloyd Hughes as its first ever chief operating officer (COO), marking a significant milestone in the museum's development as it pursues its ambitious ten-year strategy to double visitor numbers and grow its commercial operations.

Hexagon’s Manufacturing Intelligence Business Area today unveiled new laser-guided solutions that make it possible – in some cases for the first time – to automate inaccessible and large-scale quality inspections in labour-intensive operations such as aircraft assembly.

GKN Aerospace has been awarded a new five-year contract with Rolls-Royce covering fan blade repairs for the RB211-535, Trent 700 and Trent 800 engine programmes.

AerFin has announced the launch of its V2500 engine support capability, expanding its engine MRO offering and reinforcing its position in the global aviation aftermarket.

Gulfstream Aerospace have appointed Matt Davies as Director of Service Centre Operations at Gulfstream’s Farnborough facility.

Dave Lees will step down as Chief Executive of Bristol Airport after eight years in the role, remaining with the business until a successor has been appointed, supporting a transition process through to the end of 2026.

B&H Worldwide has implemented advanced, AI-driven tyre scanning technology at its New Zealand operations.

Surface coating specialist Anotec has enhanced its position in the aerospace and defence sectors by achieving the AS9100 certification.

Farnborough Airport has today announced that it has been voted as Europe’s number one FBO (Fixed Base Operator) in the 2026 Professional Pilot PRASE Survey, securing the title for the 19th time.

Dunlop Aircraft Tyres today announced the appointment of Michael "Mick" Wallwork as Chief Executive Officer. Dunlop is a portfolio company of Liberty Hall Capital Partners.

Smiths Detection has secured ECAC (European Civil Aviation Conference) certification for its iCMORE APIDS (Automated Prohibited Items Detection System), approved for deployment with the HI SCAN 6040 CTiX.

Magma Aviation has partnered with Air Atlanta to further strengthen its commitment to reducing fuel consumption and improving environmental performance across its operations.

Woking headquartered Vision Engineering Group, provider of ergonomic microscopy and metrology solutions, has announced the appointment of Harry Curtis to the position of Technical Director, effective 1st April 2026.

Chapman Freeborn OBC, a global On-Board Courier (OBC) logistics provider, has partnered with Freeze Carbon to strengthen its approach to emissions measurement and mitigation across time-critical aviation logistics operations.

Singapore-based Scoot has been named the world’s most emissions-efficient airline in Cirium’s 2025 EmeraldSky Annual Review, taking the top spot from last year’s leader, Wizz Air.

AGS Airports has appointed professional services firm WSP and architectural practice Pascall + Watson as its design partners for the next stage of its £350 million AGS Reimagined transformation programme, across Glasgow and Southampton airports.

Heathrow handled £293 billion worth of goods in 2025, according to the latest Government trade data, which is more than a quarter of all UK trade by value.

Chapman Freeborn has appointed Danish Cutleriwala as Country Manager India, to lead the company's operations in one of the world’s fastest-growing aviation and logistics markets.

The National Police Air Service (NPAS) has reached a major milestone in its National Fleet Replacement Programme (FRP) with the arrival of the first two H135 T3H aircraft at Airbus Helicopters UK in Oxford.

ALTEN has announced the opening of its newest UK office in Belfast, marking a significant strategic expansion into Northern Ireland.

During the Aircraft Interior Expo (AIX) today, Viasat announced it has entered Boeing’s technical evaluation process to assess and qualify Viasat AERA, the company’s next-gen electronically steered antenna (ESA) terminal, across all current Boeing commercial airplane programmes.

Today, three Northern Ireland aerospace companies are presenting their innovative aerospace solutions to airlines at the Aircraft Interiors Expo (AIX), Hamburg Messe, 14th-16th April 2026.

Today, Airports Council International (ACI) World has revealed the 2025 rankings of the world’s busiest airports, highlighting the industry’s leading hubs across total passengers, international passengers, air cargo and aircraft movements.

Scottish Leather Group (SLG) has opened a 75,000 sq. ft facility in Glasgow to design and manufacture BioPRO, its protein-based, recoverable moulded foam, with the new site marking a significant investment in the Group’s sustainable interior materials innovation for multiple passenger transport sectors and enabling its Muirhead brand to scale up ...

Marking its return to Aircraft Interiors Expo (AIX) 2026, ACS UK has unveiled OMNIA to demonstrate its capabilities in the design, engineering and manufacturing of customised premium cabin interiors.

GKN Aerospace today announced the launch of TITAN-AM (Titanium Industrialisation and Technology Advancement for Near-net Additive Manufacturing), an $8.4 million programme in partnership with the US Air Force Research Laboratory (AFRL).

AmSafe Bridport today announced the appointment of Benjamin Rosenblum as President, effective April 2026.

FL Technics Wheels and Brakes has received approval from the UK Civil Aviation Authority (CAA), enabling the company to service UK-registered aircraft and expand its capabilities in the component MRO segment.

A group of 11 apprentices have become the first to graduate from an in-depth, two-year course run in partnership by Manchester Airport and Trafford and Stockport College Group (TSCG).

Subsidiaries of the Vietnam Helicopter Corporation (VNH), Southern Vietnam Helicopter Company (VNH South) and Northern Vietnam Helicopter Company (VNH North), have placed an order for three Airbus H225 helicopters, to support the continued expansion of its offshore energy operations and progressively replace ageing aircraft in its fleet.

Loganair today confirmed that Scott Cunningham will be joining the airline as Chief Financial Officer, bringing over 25 years of finance and leadership experience to the team.

London Luton Airport (LLA) has completed a significant £18 million investment in resurfacing its runway.

Bristol Airport is looking to offer new destinations around the world under plans submitted to North Somerset Council, that will enable it to expand services to meet customer demand and support economic regional growth.

Chapman Freeborn has appointed Latha Narayan as its President for the Asia Pacific (APAC) region.

Senior representatives from the Farnborough Aerospace Consortium (FAC) recently visited AI-centric autonomous systems provider TEKEVER to see how the Portuguese company is progressing with its UK businesses.

UK battery pack manufacturer Alexander Battery Technologies has appointed five engineers and a project manager as it expands its technical team.

MGI Engineering Ltd (MGI) has announced the successful first flights of its TigerShark uncrewed deep strike platform, in partnership with Auterion.

Loganair, Royal Mail and BETA Technologies, today announced the successful completion of the UK's first electric flight demonstration programme across Scotland's regional air network.

Rolls-Royce has announced a £19.3 million investment in its highly specialised Advanced Blade Casting Facility (ABCF) in Rotherham, following a grant of £2 million from the South Yorkshire Mayoral Combined Authority (SYMCA).

Rolls-Royce has secured €64million in funding from the European Union’s Clean Aviation Joint Undertaking (CAJU) to lead UNIFIED (Ultra Novel and Innovative Fully Integrated Engine Demonstrations), a collaborative research project supporting the development and planned ground testing of the UltraFan 30 demonstrator.

The International Air Transport Association (IATA) has released data for February 2026 showing global passenger demand was up 6.1% and air cargo demand rose by 11.2%, compared to February 2025 levels.

The UK Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) has today published its Initial Proposals for the maximum fees that Heathrow Airport Limited (HAL) can charge airlines for using the airport for the H8 regulatory period, which runs from January 2027 until the end of 2031.

AtkinsRéalis has been appointed by Manchester Airports Group (MAG) to support its long-term strategic vision for growth, passenger experience improvement and future investment in its infrastructure.