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FlightGlobal • Dominic Perry

IAG backs MAKO’s shark-skin Flightfilm drag-reduction coating; aims for Airbus A320 trials and fuel-burn cuts

IAG says it is investing in Australian start-up MAKO, developer of a shark-skin-inspired “Flightfilm” aircraft coating designed to reduce aerodynamic drag. MAKO’s Series A totals $20 million, with initial commercial roll-out targeted on the Airbus A320, and developer claims of up to a 4% fuel-burn reduction. IAG carriers are set to begin testing the film soon.

2026-06-29T07:10:56.082081-07:00

Bloomberg

EIB commits up to €3 billion to Airbus to fund next-gen commercial and defense R&D

2026-06-29T01:40:07.325210-07:00

AirInsight

COMAC limits Airbus A220 and A320neo-family “crossover” momentum in China: 1,000 A220 and 500 A220 E2 orders—with zero Chinese a

2026-06-29T05:55:31.763688-07:00

Leeham News

Airbus weighs A220-500 stretch while updating Lufthansa’s A220 support plan

2026-06-29T00:19:04.462765-07:00

News Timeline

FlightGlobal

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IAG backs MAKO’s shark-skin Flightfilm drag-reduction coating; aims for Airbus A320 trials and fuel-burn cuts IAG says it is investing in Australian start-up MAKO, developer of a shark-skin-inspired “Flightfilm” aircraft coating designed to reduce aerodynamic drag. MAKO’s Series A totals $20 million, with initial commercial roll-out targeted on the Airbus A320, and developer claims of up to a 4% fuel-burn reduction. IAG carriers are set to begin testing the film soon.

2026-06-29T07:10:56.082081-07:00

IAG backs MAKO’s shark-skin Flightfilm drag-reduction coating; aims for Airbus A320 trials and fuel-burn cuts

AirInsight

COMAC limits Airbus A220 and A320neo-family “crossover” momentum in China: 1,000 A220 and 500 A220 E2 orders—with zero Chinese a China has not taken either the Airbus A220 or its E2 variant, despite a combined 1,000 A220 and 500 A220 E2 order book. The cluster points to COMAC as the central driver—though with nuance—highlighting how China’s domestic OEM ecosystem shapes airline fleet decisions.

2026-06-29T05:55:31.763688-07:00

COMAC limits Airbus A220 and A320neo-family “crossover” momentum in China: 1,000 A220 and 500 A220 E2 orders—with zero Chinese a

Bloomberg

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EIB commits up to €3 billion to Airbus to fund next-gen commercial and defense R&D The European Investment Bank (EIB) is providing Airbus with a record financing package of up to €3 billion (about $3.4 billion) for research and development of new technologies. The tranche is framed as bolstering Europe’s industrial base amid intensifying competition from the US and China, spanning commercial and defense aviation.

2026-06-29T01:40:07.325210-07:00

EIB commits up to €3 billion to Airbus to fund next-gen commercial and defense R&D

Leeham News

Airbus weighs A220-500 stretch while updating Lufthansa’s A220 support plan Airbus CEO Guillaume Faury says the company sees demand for a stretched A220 (often discussed as an A220-500 offering up to 185 seats), but Airbus has not reached the point to launch the program. Separately, Airbus and Lufthansa Group signed a deal to support the airline group’s A220 fleet with spares, as Airbus also studies cabin changes to broaden appeal—particularly in markets where A220 sales lag, including China.

2026-06-29T00:19:04.462765-07:00

Airbus weighs A220-500 stretch while updating Lufthansa’s A220 support plan

Air Data News

German Air Force A400M completes nonstop 6,750-nm deployment to Hawaii via aerial refueling from A400M tankers Luftwaffe/Airbus A400M aircraft completed a nonstop 6,750-nm (12,500-km) flight from Wunstorf Air Base to Hawaii, using aerial refueling provided by other A400M aircraft only. The demonstration highlights a new long-range deployment capability for Germany’s military airlift posture.

2026-06-29T00:10:50.647105-07:00

German Air Force A400M completes nonstop 6,750-nm deployment to Hawaii via aerial refueling from A400M tankers

ch-aviation

Air Astana formalises 25+25 A320neo family order in Kazakhstan’s biggest direct aircraft deal Air Astana has formalised an order for up to 50 A320neo family aircraft: 25 firm orders and 25 purchase options, covering the Kazakh carrier’s next phase of fleet renewal. The airline said the agreement is the largest direct aircraft order in Kazakhstan’s history.

2026-06-28T22:06:41.897210-07:00

Air Astana formalises 25+25 A320neo family order in Kazakhstan’s biggest direct aircraft deal

Air Data News

KLM to debut Airbus A350-900 on Amsterdam–Toronto from late August KLM expects to take delivery of its first Airbus A350-900 in late August and plans to launch the aircraft on commercial service between Amsterdam and Toronto. The Canadian city will serve as the launch destination for the airline’s newest long-haul widebody.

2026-06-27T01:40:13.644127-07:00

KLM to debut Airbus A350-900 on Amsterdam–Toronto from late August

Air Data News

Airbus CEO warns Embraer against narrowbody market entry, citing high-cost competition with Airbus, Boeing and COMAC Airbus CEO Guillaume Faury says Embraer should “think twice” before entering the narrowbody segment, arguing that competing against Airbus, Boeing and COMAC would be “difficult and costly.” His remarks position the larger OEMs’ scale and cost structure as a major barrier for a new entrant in single-aisle programs.

2026-06-26T11:48:19.916088-07:00

Airbus CEO warns Embraer against narrowbody market entry, citing high-cost competition with Airbus, Boeing and COMAC

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IAG backs MAKO’s shark-skin Flightfilm drag-reduction coating; aims for Airbus A320 trials and fuel-burn cuts

EIB commits up to €3 billion to Airbus to fund next-gen commercial and defense R&D

COMAC limits Airbus A220 and A320neo-family “crossover” momentum in China: 1,000 A220 and 500 A220 E2 orders—with zero Chinese a

Airbus weighs A220-500 stretch while updating Lufthansa’s A220 support plan

News Timeline