Negotiated Agreement Fell Through in August Due to Unexpected ASTG Objections

After more than five years of unsuccessful contract talks, pilots at Air Transport International (ATI) are ready to strike. The dispute follows the collapse of a long-awaited agreement in August, which pilots say was derailed when ATI’s parent company, Air Transport Services Group (ATSG), raised last-minute objections that stripped away key updates.

ALPA Now Calls for FAA Protections in Future Government Closures

The federal government’s reopening after a 43-day shutdown was cause for widespread celebration throughout the industry, which was on the brink of collapse as thousands of flights were chopped each day it dragged on. For unions, the excitement was quickly replaced with the urge to protect aviation when a repeat inevitably occurs.

Flag Carrier Becomes First Type Customer In Chinese Mainland

Airbus announced that Air China Cargo signed a purchase agreement for six A350F freighter aircraft to become the first customer in the Chinese mainland to order the all-new A350F. Air China Cargo is China’s only flag-carrying freight operator, with flights in North China, East China, South China, and Southeast China as well as to destinations in the Asia-Pacific, Europe, the Middle East and the Americas.

ALPA Now Calls for FAA Protections in Future Government Closures

The federal government’s reopening after a 43-day shutdown was cause for widespread celebration throughout the industry, which was on the brink of collapse as thousands of flights were chopped each day it dragged on. For unions, the excitement was quickly replaced with the urge to protect aviation when a repeat inevitably occurs. The Air Line Pilots Association, which represents more than 80,000 pilots across the US and Canada, is leading the charge. Specifically, the union is calling on Congress to pass the Aviation Funding Stability Act, which would allow the FAA to continue operating during funding lapses by drawing from the Airport and Airway Trust Fund (AATF).

FAA Order Covers All MD-11 And MD-11F Aircraft

Four days after the fatal crash of UPS Flight 2976 in Louisville, Kentucky, the FAA has issued an Emergency Airworthiness Directive that grounds all McDonnell Douglas MD-11 and MD-11F for structural inspections.

Breaks Ground On 1.2M SF Facility In North Charleston, South Carolina

Boeing broke ground on a $1 billion expansion of its 787 Dreamliner facility in North Charleston, South Carolina, ahead of an increase in production of the widebody to 10 aircraft per month in 2026.

Output May Reach Its Best Since 2018 Despite Trailing Behind Airbus

Boeing delivered 53 jets in October, bringing its 2025 total to 493 aircraft and marking its strongest output since before the pandemic. The plane maker has been gradually rebuilding from a series of crises that began with the 737 MAX grounding and extended through years of safety, quality, and demand problems.

Travelers Leaving Changi Will Soon Pay for Sustainable Fuel

Starting April 2026, passengers flying out of Singapore will find a new fee tucked into their tickets: a Sustainable Aviation Fuel levy. The Civil Aviation Authority of Singapore (CAAS) argued that the money will be used directly to purchase cleaner jet fuel and fund related administrative costs.

Low-Cost Airline Admits “Substantial Doubt” It Can Stay Airborne

Spirit Airlines has once again found itself in financial trouble, this time less than a year after claiming to have emerged from bankruptcy, refiling for Chapter 11 protection, and beginning the restructuring process. The Florida-based ultra-low-cost carrier has now acknowledged  “substantial doubt” about its ability to continue operating.