European Spaceflight
• Andrew Parsonson
The European Space Agency plans to support industry-led flight demonstrations of reusable rocket boosters through its Boosters for European Space Transportation (BEST!) initiative. The effort puts ESA behind companies demonstrating booster recovery and reuse, a key step toward developing reusable launch systems in Europe.
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A Wizz Air flight from London Luton to Sofia diverted to Budapest on Monday, 2 November, after a bomb threat was reported in flight. Hungarian Air Force Gripen fighters escorted the Airbus A321neo to Budapest Liszt Ferenc International Airport, where it landed safely.
Romanian airline HiSky Europe has reached a debt agreement with an air navigation service provider, according to ch-aviation. The available report does not specify the amount owed, the agreement’s terms or its effect on the carrier’s operations.
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The European Space Agency plans to support industry-led flight demonstrations of reusable rocket boosters through its Boosters for European Space Transportation (BEST!) initiative. The effort puts ESA behind companies demonstrating booster recovery and reuse, a key step toward developing reusable launch systems in Europe.
The Spanish carrier has merged its internal line-maintenance and heavy-maintenance divisions into one unit, Air Europa Technics. The consolidation brings supply chains and purchasing together, with the stated aims of strengthening supplier leverage, improving OEM relationships and broadening the unit’s service offering.
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Greece has formalized a government-to-government agreement with Portugal for three Embraer KC-390 Millennium transports, with options to acquire three additional aircraft. The Hellenic Air Force is scheduled to receive its first jet in 2027; the deal confirms plans unveiled in June.
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Russia barred airlines from EU countries and the U.K. from its airspace in retaliation for their bans on Russian carriers after the invasion of Ukraine. The resulting detours increased Finnair’s fuel use and emissions, with the airline’s emissions rising 10%.
Hydrosat says Nyktōs will provide high-resolution mid-wave infrared imagery for day-and-night tactical intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance. The company plans to build the capability in Europe and pair it with its Osiris wide-area thermal constellation, whose first two satellites are scheduled to launch in 2027.
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ESA’s Nicolaus Hanowski sets out 10 strengths and 10 weaknesses in Europe’s Earth-observation sector. Torsten Kriening argues that the region must address the weaknesses, framing Europe’s broad view of the world as both an asset and a problem.
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