Air Data News
• Ricardo Meier
Qantas is accelerating Airbus A380 retirements to 2028 as it weighs Airbus A350 and Boeing 787 orders, while American Airlines plans seven new international routes for 2027 using A321XLRs and considers future widebodies. Delta is restoring Los Angeles–London service ahead of anticipated 2028 Olympics demand.
North America
Latest source-backed stories
Canada is moving ahead with a C$230 million ($165 million) project to extend Inuvik’s runway by more than 900 meters (3,000 feet). The dual-use airfield, located above the Arctic Circle, is part of Ottawa’s broader effort to strengthen Arctic defense infrastructure.
Joint Task Force–Southern Border used the Army’s Multipurpose High Energy Laser system over two days this week to engage three UAS deemed hostile near the US-Mexico border. The operation, conducted in support of Customs and Border Protection, marks a reported use of directed energy against suspected cartel-linked drones.
High activity
A Piper PA-24 traveling from Anchorage to Seldovia crashed into shallow coastal waters near the remote Alaska town, killing the pilot and three passengers. Authorities said the aircraft was completely submerged and recovered the victims after waiting for the tide to recede; it was Alaska’s second fatal aircraft crash in a week.
High activity
The FAA is moving to dismiss two air-traffic controllers who allegedly left their shifts early before an Air Canada Express aircraft collided with a fire truck at New York’s LaGuardia Airport in March, according to people familiar with the matter. The collision was fatal.
High activity
Qantas is accelerating Airbus A380 retirements to 2028 as it weighs Airbus A350 and Boeing 787 orders, while American Airlines plans seven new international routes for 2027 using A321XLRs and considers future widebodies. Delta is restoring Los Angeles–London service ahead of anticipated 2028 Olympics demand.
Porter Airlines will add nonstop service from London International Airport to destinations in Florida, Mexico and Jamaica this winter, expanding the Canadian airport’s international connectivity. The four seasonal routes will be operated with Porter’s Embraer E195-E2 jets, adding a new regional market for the aircraft.
Canada’s Transportation Safety Board says rotorcraft are more than twice as vulnerable as airplanes to accidents involving loss of visual reference. The finding highlights a distinct safety risk for helicopter operations, where degraded visibility can rapidly undermine pilots’ ability to maintain effective control and situational awareness.
The Canadian government is providing a major financial lifeline to Telesat Canada to support its planned Lightspeed telecommunications satellite constellation. The move underscores Ottawa’s effort to build sovereign space capabilities and strengthen the project’s prospects amid rising defense and strategic reliance on space-based connectivity.
Create a free account to see more recent North America stories and keep bookmarks in one place.
