Europe News

Aviacionline • Pablo Diaz

‘Cartagena maneuver’: Plus Ultra, Laser and Estelar restart non‑direct EU flights to bypass Venezuela air blockade

Plus Ultra, Laser and Venezuela’s Estelar have resumed non‑direct services to the EU using a coordinated routing and border‑logistics scheme — dubbed the “Cartagena maneuver” — after EASA safety guidance and reported GNSS/GPS interference prompted suspensions by Copa, Avianca and others.

2025-12-07T18:23:51.729994-08:00

Reuters

Boeing completes roughly $4.7B takeover of Spirit AeroSystems, brings 737 MAX fuselage work in-house

2025-12-08T05:57:58.126094-08:00

FlightGlobal

Pegasus launches €154m ($179m) takeover bid for Smartwings, outbidding LOT to accelerate Central Europe expansion

2025-12-08T00:27:20.803924-08:00

Business Wire

Vertical Aerospace names Syensqo long‑term composite and adhesive supplier for VX4 to accelerate industrialisation

2025-12-08T01:10:49.821623-08:00

Europe News Timeline

IATA

IATA: SAF production growth slows — supply shortfall looms as EU mandates raise costs IATA's updated estimates show sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) production growth is slowing, creating a looming supply shortfall ahead of e‑SAF mandates and making the industry's 2050 net‑zero target harder to reach. Director General Willie Walsh said EU mandates have driven up costs without stimulating additional supply.

2025-12-09T05:15:16.455770-08:00

IATA: SAF production growth slows — supply shortfall looms as EU mandates raise costs

FlightGlobal

U.S. approves possible $79M sale of 240 AGM-114R2 Hellfire missiles to Belgium to arm MQ-9B SkyGuardian The U.S. State Department approved a possible foreign military sale allowing Belgium to buy 240 Lockheed Martin AGM-114R2 Hellfire missiles in a roughly $79 million package. The weapons are intended to arm Belgium's MQ-9B SkyGuardian remotely piloted aircraft, adding air-to-surface strike capability.

2025-12-09T03:46:32.680700-08:00

U.S. approves possible $79M sale of 240 AGM-114R2 Hellfire missiles to Belgium to arm MQ-9B SkyGuardian

Via Satellite

ICEYE raises €150M led by General Catalyst at €2.4B valuation to expand SAR constellation across Europe ICEYE raised €150 million in a financing round led by General Catalyst that values the Helsinki-based SAR specialist at €2.4 billion ($2.8 billion). The capital will accelerate expansion of its synthetic-aperture radar satellite constellation and intelligence services across Europe to meet growing commercial and government ISR demand.

2025-12-08T12:30:18.725649-08:00

ICEYE raises €150M led by General Catalyst at €2.4B valuation to expand SAR constellation across Europe

FlightGlobal

Babcock to operate Aero Vodochody L‑39 Albatros jets for France's EPNER and DGA Babcock International will operate Aero Vodochody L‑39 Albatros jet trainers to support France's EPNER test pilot school and the DGA, providing training, test and simulation sorties — including flight‑characteristics assessment and mock‑adversary roles — as an interim solution while France seeks an Alpha Jet replacement.

2025-12-08T09:31:25.346774-08:00

Babcock to operate Aero Vodochody L‑39 Albatros jets for France's EPNER and DGA

Aviation Week

EUROCONTROL and ACI EUROPE publish framework to help airports, airlines and ANSPs adapt to climate change EUROCONTROL and ACI EUROPE have jointly published "Adapting European Aviation to a Changing Climate: Guidance on Risk Assessment and Adaptation", a practical framework for airports, airlines and ANSPs to assess climate risks and implement adaptation measures to strengthen operational resilience against escalating extreme weather.

2025-12-08T07:56:54.587421-08:00

EUROCONTROL and ACI EUROPE publish framework to help airports, airlines and ANSPs adapt to climate change

Reuters

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Boeing completes roughly $4.7B takeover of Spirit AeroSystems, brings 737 MAX fuselage work in-house Boeing has completed a roughly $4.7 billion acquisition of Spirit AeroSystems, reabsorbing the primary 737 MAX fuselage supplier to tighten production and quality control after the Alaska Airlines in‑flight door blowout. Spirit Defense will operate as a non‑integrated subsidiary inside Boeing’s defense unit.

2025-12-08T05:57:58.126094-08:00

Boeing completes roughly $4.7B takeover of Spirit AeroSystems, brings 737 MAX fuselage work in-house

FlightGlobal

GKN Aerospace and Norwegian Catapult Manufacturing Technology to expand additive‑manufacturing hub in Kongsberg GKN Aerospace Norway has signed a strategic agreement with Norwegian Catapult Manufacturing Technology to expand additive‑manufacturing capacity in Kongsberg, committing "millions of pounds" of investment alongside the Kongsberg technology cluster to grow 3D‑printing production locally for aerospace components.

2025-12-08T05:45:21.564822-08:00

GKN Aerospace and Norwegian Catapult Manufacturing Technology to expand additive‑manufacturing hub in Kongsberg

European Spaceflight

Avio wins €35m defence contract; forecasts €600m+ in ESA awards after CM25 funding Avio secured a €35 million defence contract and said it expects more than €600 million in new ESA awards following CM25 funding commitments, a development that could materially expand the company’s funded space programme backlog while strengthening near‑term defence revenue visibility.

2025-12-08T03:33:05.902277-08:00

Avio wins €35m defence contract; forecasts €600m+ in ESA awards after CM25 funding