Global Scans · Aviation · Weekly Summary

WHAT'S NEXT?: More than half of the expected new passengers over the next two decades will originate from China, which will displace the US as the world's largest aviation market by around 2029. More than half of the expected new passengers over the next two decades will originate from China, which will displace the US as the world's largest aviation market by around 2029. Sales of consumer and prosumer drones are soaring and the Federal Aviation Authority forecasts there will be more than 1.3 million licensed drone pilots by 2020 in the U.S. alone.

• [New] In a notable partnership, the Lufthansa Group announced it will equip its fleet of 850 aircraft with Starlink technology, aiming to enhance in-flight internet services for passengers. KeepTrack
• [New] The deployment of heavy transport and special operations aircraft toward staging areas, with some assets proceeding to the Middle East, served to project U.S. airpower and enhance readiness amid broader geopolitical strains. Grokipedia
• [New] Jet Aviation announced that it will provide sustainable aviation fuel during the World Economic Forum 2026 in Zurich, marking the fifth year it has supported SAF availability as part of ongoing efforts to enable more sustainable choices for customers. Ccarbon.info
• [New] Ethanol-to-jet could link the large ethanol industry in the United States to aviation, one of the hardest sectors to decarbonize. Resources for the Future
• [New] The CATNLF flight test at NASA Armstrong will bring laminar technology one step closer to being implemented on next-generation aircraft. NASA
• [New] NASA researchers successfully completed a high-speed taxi test of a scale model of a design that could make future aircraft more efficient by improving how air flows across a wing's surface, saving fuel and money. NASA
• [New] The path from a pre-revenue concept to a profitable aviation business is narrow, and 2026 will show whether Archer can stay on it. Ainvest
• [New] VisionWave Technologies Inc., a wholly owned subsidiary of VisionWave Holdings, Inc, recently announced that it has begun R&D on Argus, a space-enabled, AI-driven counter-drone (C-UAS) system created in collaboration with BladeRanger to defend against modern unmanned aircraft threats. GlobeNewswire
• [New] Project Ulysses will establish one of Australia's first large-scale ATJ Sustainable Aviation Fuel and Renewable Diesel facilities. 10 North Queensland Investments and Projects to Watch
• [New] The proposed increase in the U.S. defence budget to $1.5 trillion in fiscal 2027, though pending congressional approval, signals long-term support for defence companies, while solid air passenger traffic growth continues to drive demand across the aviation sector. Yahoo Finance
• [New] Joby Aviation and Archer Aviation are among the leading U.S. OEMs expected to make notable progress in type certification with the FAA, potentially positioning themselves for limited commercial passenger routes in partnership with airlines and mobility operators. Advanced Air Mobility Intl
• [New] The multiyear project is planned to continue until 2028, during which 19 helicopters and 5 firefighting aircraft are scheduled to be added to the national inventory. Daily Sabah
• [New] The FAA has released for public comment a draft plan to move general aviation airplanes and helicopters to using unleaded aviation gasoline by 2030 in the continental U.S. and 2032 in Alaska. Aviation Week Network
• [New] The European Union's Refuel EU Aviation initiative mandates that SAF comprise 2% of jet fuel by 2025, ramping up to 70% by 2050. Petro Online
• [New] The first aircraft equipped with free and high-speed Wi-Fi will enter the Lufthansa Group fleet in the course of 2026. Brussels Airlines
• [New] From the second half of 2026 onwards, around 850 aircraft across all Lufthansa Group airlines will gradually be fitted with the new satellite-based technology. Travel Tomorrow
• [New] The total costs of the Canadian gun confiscation program beyond the pilot program could be substantial. Crime Prevention Research Center
• [New] The Department of War's required annual report on the People's Liberation Army describes Beijing's recent military expansion as historic, noting plans to field six additional aircraft carriers by 2035, bringing its total to nine - just behind the U.S. fleet of 11. National Guard Association of the United States
• [New] While the threat of an immediate intervention from the US against Iran has subsided, the US is moving an aircraft carrier strike group into the Middle East, and other military assets are expected to be shifted there in the coming days and weeks. Barchart.com
• [New] French military pilots could soon fly deeper into low-visibility missions with Thales' new TopOwl DD helmet, which brings a digital display directly into combat operations. The Defense Post
• [New] A first number of Airbus A320 aircraft will soon receive the necessary adjustments to offer Wi-Fi on-board. Brussels Airlines

Last updated: 25 January 2026