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Airbus has moved to salvage Europe's next-generation combat aircraft ambitions, unveiling an eight-strong German industrial alliance dubbed Team Gen 6 just days after Berlin and Paris abandoned the fighter element of the Future Combat Air System, the continent's flagship defence programme. The consortium was launched on 11 June at the ILA Berlin Air Show, where Airbus Defence and Space and seven German firms, among them Diehl Defence, Hensoldt, MTU Aero Engines and Rohde and

Europe's most ambitious defence venture is in ruins. The Future Combat Air System, the sixth-generation fighter programme that was meant to anchor the continent's air superiority into the second half of the century, was formally abandoned on 8 June after Berlin and Paris concluded that their industrial champions could not be reconciled. The roughly €100 billion project to develop a fully European next-generation fighter jet has been scrapped, ending an initiative launched wit

Germany and France have scrapped the joint manned fighter at the heart of the Future Combat Air System, ending nine years of cooperation on what was meant to be Europe's flagship sixth-generation combat aircraft and dealing a blow to the continent's ambitions for strategic autonomy. Chancellor Friedrich Merz informed President Emmanuel Macron that the two countries would not proceed with a shared aircraft, conveying the decision on the sidelines of the EU Western Balkans summ

Switzerland may be compelled to keep Cold War-era jets aloft well into the next decade, as cost overruns on its Lockheed Martin F-35A programme threaten to open a gap in the protection of Alpine airspace, a predicament being watched closely by Europe's own combat-aircraft makers. Lawmakers are pushing a measure that would task the government with examining a temporary continuation of F-5 Tiger operations until the end of 2030 and an extended service life for the F/A-18 fleet

Airbus has flown the world's longest-range airliner for the first time, sending the A350-1000ULR aloft from Toulouse in a milestone that underlines European aerospace's grip on the most demanding end of commercial aviation. The aircraft, designated MSN 707, took off from Toulouse-Blagnac on 2 June and flew for three hours and 43 minutes, reaching just above 41,000 feet. A dedicated Airbus test crew ran general performance checks and trialled the jet's reworked fuel system, th

European airlines are entering the peak travel season under acute fuel-cost pressure, with carriers cutting schedules, lifting fares and turning to governments for relief as Middle East supply disruptions tighten kerosene availability across the continent. The International Air Transport Association warned that European carriers could begin cancelling flights as early as late May, with constrained fuel availability threatening summer schedules and forcing airlines, airports a

European air connectivity ground to a near standstill in 2025, the International Air Transport Association has warned, blaming a punishing combination of regulatory burden, high costs and unresolved competitiveness failings for choking the route growth that underpins the continent's economy. Data released by the trade body shows the EU route network expanded by just 1 per cent last year, a net gain of 154 routes to bring the total to 14,797. The figure sits below the 1.5 per

A Royal Air Force Dassault Falcon 900LX transporting UK Defence Secretary John Healey lost GPS reception for the entire three-hour flight returning from Estonia on 21 May, in an incident UK defence sources have attributed to Russian interference and which has sharpened concerns over the resilience of European airspace. The aircraft, an Envoy IV CC.1 operated by Centreline AV on behalf of 32 (The Royal) Squadron at RAF Northolt, was transiting Baltic airspace after Healey visi

Lufthansa Group has committed to a $7.7bn fleet renewal split evenly between Airbus and Boeing, alongside a move to acquire majority control of ITA Airways, in twin announcements that reshape the European long-haul map for the coming decade. The supervisory board approved orders for ten Airbus A350-900s and ten Boeing 787-9s at its 11 May meeting, with deliveries scheduled between 2032 and 2034. Chief executive Carsten Spohr framed the commitment as a sustainable investment i

The European Union has formally opened its airspace to American-grade jet fuel, a regulatory concession that underscores how deeply the Iran conflict has destabilised the continent's aviation supply chain ahead of the peak summer season. In guidance issued by the European Commission and the EU Aviation Safety Agency, regulators confirmed there are no legal obstacles to using imported Jet A fuel, provided the switch is carefully managed across the supply chain. The move addres

France has unveiled an emergency aid package for its airlines as soaring jet fuel costs and the closure of the Strait of Hormuz force European carriers into the deepest summer schedule cuts since the pandemic. Transport Minister Philippe Tabarot confirmed last week that the government would defer social security contributions, extend tax payment deadlines, and grant carriers greater flexibility over fuel allowances to reduce direct operating costs. The measures follow a 6 May

Lufthansa Group has moved to take majority control of ITA Airways, exercising an option to acquire an additional 49 per cent of the Italian flag carrier for €325 million and lifting its overall holding to 90 per cent. The German group, Europe's largest airline operator by passenger numbers, said on Tuesday that the deal had been approved by its supervisory board on Monday and was announced at its annual general meeting in Frankfurt. The Italian Ministry of Economy and Finance