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New York Times • Madeleine Ngo

DHS awards contract for five additional deportation aircraft, doubling its jet fleet with two Gulfstreams

Documents and interviews show the Department of Homeland Security has contracted for five aircraft to support deportation operations, doubling the agency’s jet fleet. The award includes two Gulfstream aircraft, expanding ICE flight capacity under the DHS fleet buildout.

2026-04-17T16:01:42.824772-07:00

The War Zone

Test flights continue for Qatar-donated Boeing 747-8i as USAF targets interim Air Force One delivery this summer

2026-04-17T16:29:57.733275-07:00

AirInsight

Boeing shifts first-flight activity to weekends while Airbus holds out; deliveries cluster on Fridays

2026-04-17T10:05:07.733354-07:00

Airline Economics

EASA certifies Pratt & Whitney GTF Advantage for Airbus A320neo family, enabling later-2025 service entry

2026-04-17T04:07:25.270251-07:00

News Timeline

The War Zone

Test flights continue for Qatar-donated Boeing 747-8i as USAF targets interim Air Force One delivery this summer The US Air Force says the Qatar-donated Boeing 747-8i—undergoing test flights—remains on track for delivery this summer as an interim Air Force One. The milestone follows rapid conversion efforts aimed at limiting changes to compress the VIP modification schedule.

2026-04-17T16:29:57.733275-07:00

Test flights continue for Qatar-donated Boeing 747-8i as USAF targets interim Air Force One delivery this summer

New York Times

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DHS awards contract for five additional deportation aircraft, doubling its jet fleet with two Gulfstreams Documents and interviews show the Department of Homeland Security has contracted for five aircraft to support deportation operations, doubling the agency’s jet fleet. The award includes two Gulfstream aircraft, expanding ICE flight capacity under the DHS fleet buildout.

2026-04-17T16:01:42.824772-07:00

DHS awards contract for five additional deportation aircraft, doubling its jet fleet with two Gulfstreams

FlightGlobal

Shohin Airlines nears final deal with Airbus for four A320neo-family jets (2×A320neo, 2×A321neo) Shohin Airlines is in final-stage talks with Airbus over a purchase of four A320neo-family aircraft—two A320neo and two A321neo—building on an earlier intent announcement. A concurrent report notes a separate meeting between Shohin Airlines and Airbus focused on outstanding operational issues as the transaction moves toward resolution.

2026-04-17T15:16:12.456393-07:00

Shohin Airlines nears final deal with Airbus for four A320neo-family jets (2×A320neo, 2×A321neo)

AirInsight

Boeing shifts first-flight activity to weekends while Airbus holds out; deliveries cluster on Fridays A new data visualization tracks how Boeing and Airbus operationalize “building” vs “delivery,” showing Boeing’s first-flights occurring on weekends and Airbus not matching that pattern. Both OEMs, however, deliver aircraft on Fridays—revealing distinct rhythms behind production and delivery events.

2026-04-17T10:05:07.733354-07:00

Boeing shifts first-flight activity to weekends while Airbus holds out; deliveries cluster on Fridays

Airline Economics

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EASA certifies Pratt & Whitney GTF Advantage for Airbus A320neo family, enabling later-2025 service entry RTX/Pratt & Whitney says Europe’s aviation regulator (EASA) has approved the GTF Advantage-powered A320neo configuration, following earlier U.S. approval. The certification clears the path for installation and service entry later this year for the Airbus A320neo family aircraft equipped with the PW1100G turbofan.

2026-04-17T04:07:25.270251-07:00

EASA certifies Pratt & Whitney GTF Advantage for Airbus A320neo family, enabling later-2025 service entry

ch-aviation

Qatar Airways reactivates widebodies parked at Teruel as it rebuilds capacity Qatar Airways is bringing widebody aircraft back into service after storing them at Teruel. The move signals a step-change in capacity restoration for long-haul flying as the carrier works to rebuild schedules following recent regional airspace disruptions.

2026-04-17T01:22:58.946604-07:00

Qatar Airways reactivates widebodies parked at Teruel as it rebuilds capacity

Aviation Today

Airbus and Boeing recalibrate competitive positions as Airbus nears delivery targets and launches Skywise+Navblue Airbus says it narrowly beat its reduced 2025 aircraft-delivery target amid a complex operating environment, while Boeing reports it has topped Airbus in order numbers for the first time in a decade as some buyers move to align with the Trump administration. Airbus also accelerates its data/ops strategy with a new wholly owned Skywise subsidiary integrating Navblue capabilities.

2026-04-16T16:35:56.635225-07:00

Airbus and Boeing recalibrate competitive positions as Airbus nears delivery targets and launches Skywise+Navblue

Reuters

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VietJet secures SPDB lease for 10 COMAC C909s, expands China–Vietnam narrowbody flying VietJet Aviation JSC has signed a finance lease with SPDB Financial Leasing Co. for 10 COMAC C909 regional jets, expanding its C909 fleet to 12 aircraft. VietJet plans to deploy the jets on Vietnam–China routes, including services that have been operating since April 2025 under a wet lease.

2026-04-16T13:24:30.408488-07:00

VietJet secures SPDB lease for 10 COMAC C909s, expands China–Vietnam narrowbody flying

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Orders News

DHS awards contract for five additional deportation aircraft, doubling its jet fleet with two Gulfstreams

Test flights continue for Qatar-donated Boeing 747-8i as USAF targets interim Air Force One delivery this summer

Boeing shifts first-flight activity to weekends while Airbus holds out; deliveries cluster on Fridays

EASA certifies Pratt & Whitney GTF Advantage for Airbus A320neo family, enabling later-2025 service entry

News Timeline