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Europe's largest aviation group has committed to equipping its entire 850-aircraft fleet with SpaceX's Starlink satellite internet, announcing Monday the continent's most ambitious in-flight connectivity upgrade as carriers race to meet passenger expectations for seamless digital access at altitude. Lufthansa Group, whose stable includes the flagship German carrier alongside Austrian, Swiss, Brussels Airlines and recently acquired ITA Airways, expects the first Starlink-equip

European airlines face mounting pressure as regulatory scrutiny intensifies alongside persistent capacity constraints, threatening the sector's fragile recovery trajectory. The industry confronts a challenging operational landscape in early 2026, with air traffic control staffing shortages across key European hubs exacerbating delays that plagued the previous summer season. Eurocontrol data suggests airspace capacity remains approximately 12 percent below optimal levels, forc

Severe winter weather brought widespread disruption to European aviation this week, with over 500 flights cancelled and more than 1,000 delayed across major hubs as snowfall and strong winds crippled operations at Amsterdam Schiphol, London, Munich, and other key airports. KLM Royal Dutch Airlines was forced to cancel 300 flights on Monday, January 5, following 295 cancellations the previous day at Amsterdam Schiphol Airport. The carrier warned that winter conditions includin

Europe's aviation network buckled under operational strain on Monday as adverse weather combined with seasonal demand surges to ground thousands of passengers across the continent, with major carriers recording nearly 1,700 delays and over 100 cancellations. Paris Charles de Gaulle bore the brunt of the disruption, logging 379 delays and twelve cancellations by early evening, whilst Amsterdam Schiphol—already operating near capacity constraints—recorded 270 delays and 43 canc

Major European aviation hubs are grappling with capacity constraints that threaten to stifle growth, as passenger volumes approach historic highs whilst infrastructure investment lags decades behind demand projections. Heathrow Airport recorded its busiest November on record with 6.4 million passengers, yet the London hub operates at maximum capacity with no expansion pathway following years of political deadlock over a proposed third runway. The capacity ceiling forces airli

German carrier commits to €100m-plus fleet upgrade as pressure mounts on European airlines to reduce carbon footprint Lufthansa Group has announced plans to retrofit 134 Airbus A320-family aircraft with advanced digital navigation technology, positioning itself ahead of incoming European Union regulations while seeking competitive advantages in increasingly congested airspace. The upgrade programme, launching in 2026, will equip the carrier's short-haul fleet with FANS-C comm

Europe's aviation sector enters the holiday season confronting a constellation of challenges that underscore structural vulnerabilities in the continent's aerospace manufacturing and airline operations. Airbus faces mounting pressure to meet its revised 2025 delivery target of 790 aircraft after handing over just 657 jets through November. The Toulouse-based manufacturer must deliver 133 aircraft in December—approaching its record monthly pace—following supplier quality issue

The European Union's ReFuelEU Aviation regulation represents one of the bloc's most ambitious attempts to decarbonise a notoriously difficult sector. From January 2025, fuel suppliers at EU airports must blend at least 2% alternative aviation fuels into their kerosene mix, rising to 70% by 2050. It's a bold policy signal that should catalyse billions in clean fuel investment. But recent modelling suggests Brussels may be setting itself up for a climate reckoning. The arithmet

European travellers face mounting disruption as coordinated strikes across Italy, Portugal and Spain threaten to paralyse transport networks during the peak December holiday period, compounding an already challenging year for the continent's aviation sector. Portugal braces for its first general strike since 2013 on Wednesday, with approximately half the workforce expected to participate in protests against proposed labour law reforms. National carrier TAP has begun cancellin

The European Commission is working on a dedicated industrial strategy for the aviation sector, which would set out the direction of future EU research and innovation funding.  The move was confirmed by Filip Cornelis, director for aviation at the Commission’s transport directorate, after transport Commissioner Apostolos Tzitzikostas backed industry moves in the same direction. “I believe that, indeed, it is now the time for the European Union to review its position towards it

European regulators have ordered airlines to take immediate action on Airbus A320 Family aircraft after an investigation linked a recent uncommanded pitch-down event to a potential fault in a key flight-control computer. The European Union Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) published an Emergency Airworthiness Directive (EAD) on November 28, 2025, requiring operators to replace or modify a specific Elevator Aileron Computer (ELAC B L104) before the aircraft’s next flight. The dire

Overall European aviation capacity grew 5% year-over-year reaching 125.8 million seats during November 2025, with international capacity expanding 7% whilst domestic capacity contracted 1.9% compared to November 2024, according to OAG schedule data. Low-cost carrier capacity increased 5.6% versus prior year, whilst mainline carriers posted 4.6% growth, representing 64% of total market. Spain and United Kingdom maintained positions as largest capacity markets with 13.1 million