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Aviation Source • Len Varley

Munich posts largest absolute passenger increase among German‑speaking countries in 2025

Munich Airport recorded the largest absolute increase in passenger numbers among German‑speaking countries in 2025, posting significant traffic growth compared with regional peers. The surge highlights Munich's expanding role in European connectivity as passenger volumes rebound across multiple markets in 2025.

2026-01-08T15:47:51.430523-08:00

AeroTime

GAO: FAA still short of air-traffic controllers despite ~200,000 applicants; workforce down 6% since FY2015

2026-01-08T11:57:10.760405-08:00

AINonline

Watchdog: Safety Oversight and ATC Modernization Are Top Challenges Facing the FAA

2026-01-08T11:19:05.748527-08:00

AINonline

Signature Aviation to build and operate FBO at Guanacaste (Liberia) Airport, Costa Rica

2026-01-08T11:19:05.928454-08:00

News Timeline

Aviation Source

Munich posts largest absolute passenger increase among German‑speaking countries in 2025 Munich Airport recorded the largest absolute increase in passenger numbers among German‑speaking countries in 2025, posting significant traffic growth compared with regional peers. The surge highlights Munich's expanding role in European connectivity as passenger volumes rebound across multiple markets in 2025.

2026-01-08T15:47:51.430523-08:00

Munich posts largest absolute passenger increase among German‑speaking countries in 2025

AeroTime

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GAO: FAA still short of air-traffic controllers despite ~200,000 applicants; workforce down 6% since FY2015 The GAO finds the FAA still lacks enough air-traffic controllers despite roughly 200,000 applicants, blaming lengthy training pipelines, high attrition and strict age limits. It reports the active controller workforce fell about 6% between FY2015 and FY2025, leaving persistent staffing gaps across the U.S. system.

2026-01-08T11:57:10.760405-08:00

GAO: FAA still short of air-traffic controllers despite ~200,000 applicants; workforce down 6% since FY2015

AINonline

Signature Aviation to build and operate FBO at Guanacaste (Liberia) Airport, Costa Rica Signature Aviation will expand into Costa Rica through a partnership to construct and operate a general and business aviation terminal at Guanacaste (Liberia) Airport. The new FBO will deliver fixed‑base services, ground handling and private terminal facilities under Signature’s global network.

2026-01-08T11:19:05.928454-08:00

Signature Aviation to build and operate FBO at Guanacaste (Liberia) Airport, Costa Rica

AINonline

Watchdog: Safety Oversight and ATC Modernization Are Top Challenges Facing the FAA A federal watchdog says safety oversight and air-traffic control modernization are the FAA's top challenges, finding safety was a common problem across transportation modes. The report warns these gaps complicate modernization efforts and oversight responsibilities, raising urgency around funding, staffing and program delivery.

2026-01-08T11:19:05.748527-08:00

Watchdog: Safety Oversight and ATC Modernization Are Top Challenges Facing the FAA

AINonline

Hermeus moves Quarterhorse to Spaceport America for first uncrewed supersonic flight trials Hermeus has relocated its Quarterhorse demonstrator to Spaceport America to begin the company’s first uncrewed supersonic flight trials. The move places the prototype at the test site ahead of planned flight testing designed to validate high‑speed performance, systems integration and airworthiness metrics.

2026-01-08T10:54:51.856683-08:00

Hermeus moves Quarterhorse to Spaceport America for first uncrewed supersonic flight trials

DefenseNews.com

Italy to open first F‑35 training school outside U.S. at Trapani‑Birgi by 2029 Rome has chosen Trapani‑Birgi Air Base in Sicily as the site of the first F‑35 training school outside the United States, scheduled to open by 2029. The F‑35 Joint Program Office and Lockheed Martin will ready the facility, making Trapani Italy’s third F‑35 hub and a NATO multinational training center.

2026-01-08T08:35:06.980476-08:00

Italy to open first F‑35 training school outside U.S. at Trapani‑Birgi by 2029

Airline Economics

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Turkish Airlines launches TRY100bn ($2.3bn) plan to expand SmartIST cargo hub, MRO and ground operations Turkish Airlines unveiled a TRY100 billion (about $2.3bn) investment initiative to bolster Türkiye’s aviation infrastructure, funding eight new facilities across cargo, maintenance, catering, training and IT. The plan includes SmartIST Phase 2—doubling cargo capacity from 2.2m to 4.5m tonnes/year—with phased delivery through 2027–28.

2026-01-08T06:49:12.080554-08:00

Turkish Airlines launches TRY100bn ($2.3bn) plan to expand SmartIST cargo hub, MRO and ground operations

news.archer.com

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Archer to deploy NVIDIA IGX Thor onboard AI for LA air‑taxi network, debuting at Hawthorne At CES 2026 Archer Aviation said it will build and deploy next‑generation onboard AI for its eVTOL air‑taxi operations using NVIDIA's IGX Thor industrial compute platform. The company will debut the integration at its newly acquired Hawthorne Airport, which will serve as a testbed and the LA network hub.

2026-01-08T06:06:11.528219-08:00

Archer to deploy NVIDIA IGX Thor onboard AI for LA air‑taxi network, debuting at Hawthorne

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Airport Infrastructure & Air Traffic Management News

Munich posts largest absolute passenger increase among German‑speaking countries in 2025

GAO: FAA still short of air-traffic controllers despite ~200,000 applicants; workforce down 6% since FY2015

Watchdog: Safety Oversight and ATC Modernization Are Top Challenges Facing the FAA

Signature Aviation to build and operate FBO at Guanacaste (Liberia) Airport, Costa Rica

News Timeline