by Elsie Clark | Feb 24, 2026 | Innovation, Sustainability
Zero-emissions taxiing is the focus of a new project backed by the UK’s Aerospace Technology Institute and Innovate UK. Led by Airbus, a consortium of partners including Drive System Design (DSD), Evolito, and the University of Southampton will work together to advance an electric wheel taxi system.
Such a solution could reduce taxi emissions by 47%, as aircraft could take off without deploying their main engines. Called Project SONATA, the consortium will develop a low speed, high torque electric motor and other infrastructure to support development.
Commenting on DSD’s involvement, Chris McDonald, the UK Government Minister for Industry, said:
Aviation needs to be sustainable on both land and air to reach Jet Zero, and that’s why this government is backing this innovative project by DSD to electrify aircraft ground operations. The UK’s world class aerospace sector has a key role to play in this race, and that’s why we’re doubling down on support for the sector through our Modern Industrial Strategy, delivering innovation and good jobs.
IATA named climate change-related disruption as one of the aviation industry’s top risks for 2026. The increasing frequency of extreme weather events will make running flights more difficult and less predictable, making improved sustainability an operational necessity. If successful, projects such as SONATA could go some way to mitigating these risks while reducing aviation’s overall environmental impact.
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by Elsie Clark | Feb 19, 2026 | Innovation
European aircraft and aerospace manufacturer Airbus have published their full-year 2025 financial performance, recording revenue of €73.4 billion and a record backlog of 8,754 commercial aircraft.
Revenue was up on 2024’s €69.2 billion, and Airbus also managed to deliver more aircraft (783 in 2025 against 766 in 2024). Airbus Defence and Space performed especially well, with revenue increasing 11% year-on-year to €13.4 billion.
For 2026, assuming no further geopolitical disruption, the company is targeting 870 commercial deliveries. Production on the A220s is still accelerating, with Airbus now hoping to deliver 13 models a month by 2028. They blame Pratt & Whitney as engine suppliers for the current stalling on the programme, and assert that they will achieve a rate of 70 to 75 overall aircraft a month before the end of 2027.
Rivals Boeing posted a profit in 2025 for the first time since 2018, but also reported a backlog worth US$682 billion.
Guillaume Faury, Airbus Chief Executive Officer, said:
2025 was a landmark year, characterised by very strong demand for our products and services across all businesses, a record financial performance, and strategic milestones. We successfully navigated a complex and dynamic operating environment to deliver on our updated guidance.
Global demand for commercial aircraft underpins our ongoing production ramp-up, which we are managing while facing significant Pratt & Whitney engine shortages. The broad and competitive portfolios of Defence and Space as well as Helicopters allow us to capture the momentum in defence. We are also making progress to establish a new global industrial space player, together with our partners. These 2025 results and the confidence in our future financial performance support the proposed higher dividend payment.
Faury alludes to the merger with Leonardo and Thales that will see Airbus contribute its Space Systems and Space Digital businesses to a new aerospace entity that could rival SpaceX. Worth €10 billion, the European super-company represents an exciting development for Airbus as the manufacturing arm continues to struggle with supply chain issues and an extensive backlog.
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by Elsie Clark | Feb 5, 2026 | MRO IT
Airbus’s latest Global Services Forecast (GSF) for the Asia-Pacific region predicts that services demand in the region will reach US$138.7 billion by 2044.
With a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 5.2%, APAC is set to be the most dynamic aviation services market in the world. 19,560 new passenger aircraft will be required to meet travel demand, Airbus believe, as passenger traffic looks set to grow at 4.4% annually.
The GSF divides the services market in APAC into seven key sectors:
- Off-wing maintenance, worth US$100 billion in 2044, driven by expanding (and ageing) fleets. Supply chain challenges and labour shortages pose significant challenges to this segment.
- On-wing maintenance, worth US$14 billion in 2044 as key MRO infrastructure develops and expands in fast-growing markets like India, Indonesia, and Malaysia.
- Modifications and upgrades, worth US$6.2 billion in 20444. Airbus say cabin modernisation is being undertaken more regularly as airlines try and offer more premium products and the latest inflight connectivity (IFC) solutions in line with changing customer demand.
- Digital and connectivity, worth US$11.2 billion in 2044, driven by widespread adoption of AI and data analytics for predictive maintenance, improved flight ops, and labour shortage mitigation.
- Training, worth US$7.7 billion in 2044. Airbus predict that 1.06 million new aviation professionals will be required by 2044, including 282,000 pilots, 302,000 technicians and 473,000 cabin crew.
- Maintenance operations support, worth US$46.4 billion by 2044, and a key enabler for operators and MROS.
- Ground operations, worth US$31 billion by 2044 and undergoing complex restructuring as the sector incorporates automation and digital tools for improved performance.
Airbus conclude their notes on APAC by explaining:
As the aviation ecosystem continues to evolve, growth in services demand is increasingly concentrated in Asia-Pacific. Although mature markets will continue to provide scale, Asia-Pacific, driven by South Asia and China, will define the next phase of global aviation services growth, reshaping capacity, capabilities and investment priorities worldwide.
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by Elsie Clark | Jan 19, 2026 | Innovation
The South China Morning Post has confirmed that pilots working for the European Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) have been testing the COMAC C919 plane in Shanghai.
China’s rival to the Airbus A320 and Boeing 737, the C919 applied for EASA certification in 2019, but the process was delayed by the Covid-19 pandemic. Approval efforts restarted in 2023, and EASA confirmed that new ‘validation’ tests in Shanghai involved foreign pilots
The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) is also yet to certify the C919 for US operations. COMAC aircraft are currently in service with Air China, China Eastern Airlines, and China Southern Airlines. The smaller regional C909 jet is also in use across China, with orders confirmed from Air Cambodia and TransNusa.
Lacking certification from any Western aviation authority puts a brake on COMAC’s expansion plans. Ryanair CEO Michael O’Leary told Skift in March 2025 that he would order COMAC aircraft if they were allowed into the market and priced competitively. These comments drew the attention of US Congressman Raja Krishnamoorthi, who said:
US and European airlines should not be even contemplating the future purchase of airplanes from Chinese military companies.
However, as supply chain pressures continue to cause Airbus and Boeing to underdeliver, COMAC aircraft could fill a critical gap in the market to fuel airlines’ ambitious growth targets.
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by Elsie Clark | Jan 16, 2026 | Connectivity, MRO IT
In a new report, Airbus predict that the centre of aviation’s afterservices market is shifting eastwards. The manufacturing and technology firm’s latest Global Services Forecast (GSF) asserts that the sector in China will more than double in value over the next 20 years, rising from US$24.8 billion in 2025 to US$63.8 billion in 2044.
The country hosts the single largest Airbus fleet in the world, with airlines such as China Southern, China Eastern, and Xiamen Air operating hundreds of Airbus aircraft between them. And the growth shows no signs of slowing: domestic passenger volumes grew by 17% in 2025 compared to the pre-pandemic year 2019, and the Global Services Forecast expects China to receive over 9,500 new aircraft in the next two decades.
Airbus add that superior connectivity services will result in huge savings across the Chinese aviation world. The report predicts that the industry will reduce expenses by US$2.2 billion with digital tech ops and a further US$5.7 billion through fuel cost reduction. The digital and connectivity space is the fastest-growing afterservices market in the country: currently worth US$1.8 billion, Airbus predict its value will rise to US$5.1 billion by 2041.
Other important segments in China include off-wing maintenance, which will be increasingly in-demand due to ageing fleets. At the same time, on-wing maintenance will become a US$6.8 billion market to care for the expected 9,500 new aircraft.
Airbus note that training and upskilling will be key to achieving growth: China’s aviation industry will need to be supported by an additional 485,000 personnel by 2044, including pilots and technicians.
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