AeroTime
• Ian Molyneaux
Airbus expects the global dedicated freighter fleet to expand from 2,360 aircraft in 2026 to 3,460 by 2045, and forecasts demand for 2,670 freighters over the period. North America is projected to lead demand, followed closely by Asia-Pacific, according to the company’s 2026 Cargo Global Market Forecast.
Asia-Pacific (APAC)
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Airbus expects the global dedicated freighter fleet to expand from 2,360 aircraft in 2026 to 3,460 by 2045, and forecasts demand for 2,670 freighters over the period. North America is projected to lead demand, followed closely by Asia-Pacific, according to the company’s 2026 Cargo Global Market Forecast.
High activity
India’s space agency, ISRO, launched Chandrayaan-1 on Oct. 21, 2008, marking the country’s first mission to the moon. The anniversary highlights a milestone in India’s space program and its move into lunar exploration.
Bengaluru-based OXG Space raised ₹17 crore in a round led by Aum Ventures’ India Innovation Fund II to build a satellite connectivity network in orbit. Separately, U.S. startup Atombeam raised $18.3 million to accelerate adoption of networking software for satellite, defense and commercial links, taking its total funding to $55 million.
VietJetAir has been hit with a worldwide asset freeze tied to $250 million in debt, according to a report in Commercial Aviation News. The available article summary provides no further detail on the parties seeking the freeze, its scope or its effect on the airline’s operations.
High activity
Qatar Airways plans to begin service to Western Sydney International on Dec. 15, 2027, with three weekly Boeing 777-300ER flights linking the airport to Doha. The airport will be the carrier’s seventh Australian gateway; Qatar Airways says it intends to increase the route to daily service over time.
Vietnam Airlines is reportedly seeking to lease 20 to 25 A321-200N aircraft to support a return to the low-cost market as early as 2027, Bloomberg reported, citing unnamed sources familiar with the plans. The report signals a potential fleet commitment tied to the carrier’s budget-market strategy.
A court has extended Air Calédonie’s observation period in its court-supervised restructuring by six months, through mid-April 2027. The reprieve gives the New Caledonian carrier additional time under judicial oversight as it works through its restructuring.
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