FlightGlobal
• David Kaminski-Morrow
India’s IndiGo will discontinue its widebody operations from Oct. 25 and end its ACMI agreement with Norse Atlantic Airways on Oct. 31, returning five Boeing 787-9s. The decision brings an early end to the budget carrier’s long-haul experiment after difficulties operating European routes.
Airbus A350
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India’s IndiGo will discontinue its widebody operations from Oct. 25 and end its ACMI agreement with Norse Atlantic Airways on Oct. 31, returning five Boeing 787-9s. The decision brings an early end to the budget carrier’s long-haul experiment after difficulties operating European routes.
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General Dynamics beat Q2 2026 forecasts as Gulfstream deliveries rose to 41 and Aerospace revenue climbed 15.1%. Boeing reported a Q2 2026 net loss of $428M (-$0.67/share) on $24.6B revenue, alongside a record $715B order backlog. Airbus more than doubled Q2 profit on stronger commercial deliveries and defense performance, reiterating its full-year outlook as the A350 freighter’s first flight appears pushed to “before year-end” and A400M momentum looks “good.”
SriLankan Airlines has committed to Airbus to purchase six A330-300s and four A350-900s in a USD2.9 billion deal at list prices. Separately, Philippine Airlines has taken delivery of its third Airbus A350-1000, RP-C3512, as it continues expanding long-haul capacity.
The Trent XWB-97 is described as the most highly utilised civil engine in service, powering aircraft that average more than 13 hours per day. That deployment footprint underscores both the long-haul duty cycle and operator confidence in day-to-day performance.
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Airbus’ specially equipped A350-1000ULR prototype has touched down in Australia for the first time after a ~19-hour non-stop flight from Toulouse, then returned via a transpacific route as testing continues. The ultra-long-haul program is building toward planned Qantas deliveries tied to world-record nonstop service attempts.
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Airbus has kicked off a first nonstop certification test flight of the A350-1000ULR, departing Toulouse for Melbourne to validate ultra-long-range systems for Qantas’s Project Sunrise. The test—running roughly 20+ hours and targeting an approximately 17,000-kilometer flight profile—includes onboard checks such as aft fuel tank performance and operational capability.
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Airbus announced a €5bn share buyback program over three years, starting later this year, alongside higher mid-term targets. The company projects EBIT of €12bn–€13bn in 2029 versus €7.1bn in 2025, aiming to nearly double profits as supply chains ease and jet output rises.
Airbus commercial aircraft chief Lars Wagner says strong demand—and the possibility of further “stretch”—are increasing pressure for Airbus to offer earlier slot allocation for A350 twinjets. He is pressing for a decision this year to raise the A350’s production rate above the current target.
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