Airbus

Boeing and Airbus have completed landmark acquisitions of Spirit AeroSystems assets, fundamentally reshaping the commercial aerospace manufacturing landscape. The finalized deals, announced on December 8, 2025, represent a pivotal moment for both manufacturers and signal the end of Spirit’s tenure as an independent aerostructures supplier. Boeing’s Comprehensive Integration Boeing confirmed the acquisition of all Spirit-related commercial operations, including fuselages for the 737 program and major structures for the 767, 777, and 787 Dreamliner. The deal also encompasses commercially procured fuselages for military platforms including the P-8 and KC-46. Notably, the transaction brings Spirit’s extensive spare-parts business in-house, significantly expanding Boeing’s maintenance, repair, and overhaul (MRO) capabilities and strengthening its aftermarket portfolio.

Airbus faces a critical December as it pursues a revised delivery target of 790 commercial aircraft for 2025, down from the originally announced 820. The adjustment, confirmed on December 3, 2025, stems from a supplier quality issue affecting fuselage panels on the A320 Family—one of aviation’s most widely produced aircraft families. With 657 aircraft delivered through November 2025, following 72 deliveries in that month alone, Airbus must complete 133 more aircraft deliveries to meet its revised annual goal. This would require near-record monthly performance, as the company achieved its highest monthly total of 138 aircraft in December 2019, with 123 delivered in December 2024.

Argentine low-cost carrier Flybondi has announced a transformative $1.7 billion investment in new aircraft, signing orders for up to 35 narrowbody jets from both Airbus and Boeing. The dual manufacturer approach underscores the airline’s strategy to build operational flexibility while expanding its presence across Latin America. On November 2, 2025, Flybondi confirmed orders for 15 Airbus A220-300 aircraft with options for five additional units, alongside 10 Boeing 737 MAX 10s with comparable purchase rights. The announcement represents a significant milestone for the regional aviation market, as Flybondi will become the first Latin American operator of the A220-300, a next-generation narrowbody designed for efficiency and passenger comfort.

Airbus Cuts 2025 Delivery Target Amid Significant Fuselage Panel Quality Issue Airbus announced a substantial reduction to its 2025 commercial aircraft delivery target on December 3, 2025, downgrading...

Airbus has introduced operational restrictions for A320neo-family aircraft equipped with Pratt & Whitney PW1100G geared turbofan engines, limiting takeoffs during freezing fog conditions when visibility falls below 150 meters. The measure follows reported engine performance issues in extreme winter weather and represents a significant operational consideration for airlines operating in cold-climate regions. The restriction emerged into public view after Air Astana, Kazakhstan’s flag carrier, experienced weather-related delays at Almaty Airport on November 15, 2025. The airline attributed the disruptions to heavy engine icing impairing engine performance under freezing fog and sub-zero temperature conditions. Air Astana confirmed the limitation applies across its A320neo, A321neo, and A321LR fleet—comprising 11 A320neos, four A321neos, and 13 A321LRs.

Airbus is undertaking an investigation into a newly identified industrial quality issue affecting fuselage panels on several dozen A320-family aircraft, according to multiple industry sources briefed on the matter. The suspected production flaw has begun to delay certain near-term deliveries, though preliminary indications suggest no aircraft currently operating with airlines have been impacted by the defect. The exact origin and full scope of the manufacturing issue remain under review by Airbus engineers and quality assurance teams. One source familiar with the matter indicated the problem concerns manufacturing tolerances detected during standard production checks, leading the company to initiate additional inspections across a batch of A320neo-family airframes. Airbus has declined to comment publicly on the investigation at this time.

Airbus Reports Near-Completion of A320 Precautionary Fleet Updates Following Flight-Control Vulnerability Airbus has announced substantial progress in implementing precautionary software and system up...

Industrial failures within the Future Combat Air System (FCAS) program have exposed fundamental governance tensions threatening one of Europe’s most ambitious defense initiatives. According to Senator Hugues Saury, co-rapporteur for France’s defense equipment program, technical shortcomings by Airbus Germany—specifically the subsidiary’s inability to produce required sub-assemblies—directly precipitated Dassault Aviation’s demands for enhanced leadership authority over the New Generation Fighter component. Saury’s remarks, delivered during a Senate budget hearing before the Foreign Affairs and Defense Committee, provide rare official acknowledgment of the industrial obstacles undermining the tri-national partnership. “Airbus Germany was not able to carry out the technical sub-assemblies for which it had responsibility,” Saury stated, emphasizing that this production failure created cascading consequences across engineering teams and project coordination.

Most of the world’s Airbus A320 Family aircraft have returned to passenger service following rapid completion of critical software updates mandated by the European Union Aviation Safety Agency (EASA). The agency issued an Emergency Airworthiness Directive on November 28, 2025, requiring operators worldwide to address a vulnerability affecting specific flight-control computers before resuming normal operations. The directive targeted Elevator Aileron Computer (ELAC B L104) units installed on A320 Family aircraft, which Airbus identified as potentially vulnerable to data corruption when exposed to solar radiation. The manufacturer’s Alert Operators Transmission detailed two compliance pathways: uploading the updated L103+ software standard or physically replacing affected ELAC units with serviceable equipment.

Airbus has issued a significant safety advisory affecting operators of A320 Family aircraft worldwide, warning of potential flight-control data corruption linked to solar radiation exposure. The European aircraft manufacturer disclosed that intense solar activity may, in rare circumstances, corrupt data essential to flight-control functions, affecting a substantial portion of the global A320 fleet. The alert follows Airbus’s investigation into a recent operational event involving an A320 Family aircraft, during which solar activity was identified as a possible trigger for data corruption within the aircraft’s flight-control systems. Notably, the incident resulted in no loss of control or passenger injuries, but prompted comprehensive analysis and industry coordination.

Aviation Capital Group Delivers First A220-300 to ITA Airways, Supporting European Fleet Modernization US-based aircraft lessor Aviation Capital Group (ACG) has delivered its first Airbus A220-300 to ...

Oman has officially entered a new era of space technology with the signing of a major agreement with Airbus Defence and Space to design, build, and launch OMANSAT-1, the Sultanate’s first high-capacity communications satellite. This milestone project represents a pivotal moment in Oman’s growing space program and its broader strategy to enhance digital infrastructure and sovereignty. According to Oman’s state news agency Oman Observer, OMANSAT-1 will deliver high-capacity communications services across Oman and its territorial waters, with extended coverage reaching key regions including the Middle East, East Africa, and Asia. The satellite’s wide footprint positions Oman as an emerging player in regional space-based communications infrastructure.