Aviation Week
• David Casey
Birmingham Airport’s draft 2026–2041 master plan proposes £2 billion of investment to raise annual capacity to about 30 million passengers. The expansion would add terminal and aircraft-stand capacity, support more long-haul links and air freight, and contribute to job creation across the West Midlands.
Airport Infrastructure & Air Traffic Management
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SC Aviation has broken ground on a new hangar in Janesville, Wisconsin. The announcement provides no details on the facility’s size, cost or expected completion date.
Boards and candidate shortlists point to a widening gap between the capabilities airports will need and the experience of executives seeking the top job. By 2035, airport CEOs are expected to differ from their 2015 counterparts in experience, judgment and credibility, raising questions about how leadership talent is identified and developed.
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Birmingham Airport’s draft 2026–2041 master plan proposes £2 billion of investment to raise annual capacity to about 30 million passengers. The expansion would add terminal and aircraft-stand capacity, support more long-haul links and air freight, and contribute to job creation across the West Midlands.
Congress should tie approval of Sean Duffy’s $30 billion FAA modernization request to enforceable requirements, including redundant physical routes, milestone-based funding and integrated staff training. The proposal argues that the scale of the investment alone will not ensure a durable modernization plan.
Airbus’ Wing of Tomorrow wing design could reduce fuel consumption, but its span would not fit at today’s narrowbody gates. Folding wingtips could help future narrowbody jets accommodate wider, more efficient wings, though applying the technology brings technical and airport-infrastructure challenges.
The partnership combines a searchable library with operator-specific notes for briefings on departure and destination airports. The announcement points to a tool for bringing general airport information and operator-provided details together, though the available report does not specify the product’s coverage, users or rollout.
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American Express plans new Centurion lounges at Newark, opening in 2027, and Heathrow Terminal 5, due in 2028, alongside larger lounges in Philadelphia and Houston. Separately, British Airways has announced a major Heathrow lounge investment that includes a new Terminal 5 facility scheduled for 2028.
Air Services Guyana plans to establish the country’s first fixed-base operator while growing its fleet. The move combines investment in business aviation infrastructure with fleet expansion, though the available report summary does not specify the facility’s location, aircraft additions or timeline.
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