AeroTime
• Ian Molyneaux
Birmingham Airport’s draft master plan proposes a £2 billion expansion that could lift annual passenger numbers to about 30 million over 15 years. At Heathrow, executives say investors cannot wait indefinitely for approval of a £33 billion third runway plan, while the airport says more than 40 airlines are seeking slots.
Airport Infrastructure & Air Traffic Management
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Birmingham Airport’s draft master plan proposes a £2 billion expansion that could lift annual passenger numbers to about 30 million over 15 years. At Heathrow, executives say investors cannot wait indefinitely for approval of a £33 billion third runway plan, while the airport says more than 40 airlines are seeking slots.
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Saudi Arabia said a ballistic missile attack on King Khalid International Airport killed 12 people and injured 309, prompting a temporary suspension of operations. The strike was the third reported attack on the airport that week and the deadliest incident in an escalating Houthi campaign against the kingdom, amid a wider regional conflict.
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.
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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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