Qantas A350-1000ULR Delivery Slips to April 2027 on Supply Chain Disruptions

Qantas’s flagship Project Sunrise programme faces yet another delay, with the first Airbus A350-1000ULR now expected in April 2027 rather than late 2026. Airbus attributes the postponement to persistent supply chain disruptions affecting programmes across its portfolio. The ultra-long-range variant is designed to operate nonstop flights from Sydney to London and New York, requiring three aircraft before daily service can begin. The first airframe has entered the paint shop in Toulouse and will receive its premium four-class cabin layout before engine installation. Qantas ordered 12 of the type in May 2022.

Sources: Aviation Week

Airbus Maps Path to A320 Successor as CFM RISE Open Fan Testing Nears

Leeham News has launched an analytical series examining how Airbus will develop its next single-aisle aircraft to replace the A320 and A321 families. Airbus projects deliveries beginning in the latter half of the next decade, with a central technology decision hinging on CFM International’s RISE open fan engine. Flight testing of the RISE demonstrator aboard an A380 testbed is set for 2029 under the EU-backed TAKE OFF programme, a four-year, €139 million effort led by Safran Aircraft Engines. The open fan architecture promises a 20 percent fuel-burn reduction over current turbofans.

Sources: Leeham News

Inaugural MRO Greater China Conference Opens in Beijing

Aviation Week Network and China Aviation Supplies Holding Co. have opened the first MRO Greater China Conference and Exhibition at the Capital International Exhibition Center in Beijing, running May 26–28. The event connects Chinese aviation enterprises with global MRO providers as the country’s carrier fleet grows rapidly and engine overhaul demand surges. Asia-Pacific engine MRO demand is forecast to overtake North America next year, driven by rising flight hours and new-generation engine service requirements. The three-day programme addresses supply chain localisation, workforce development and next-generation engine maintenance capabilities across the region.

Sources: Aviation Week

Airbus Works to Resynchronize A320neo Production Ahead of Mid-Year Target

Airbus is working to realign A320neo-family production and deliveries by the end of June after a fuselage panel quality issue disrupted output. The manufacturer delivered only 136 A320neo-family aircraft in the first four months of 2026, averaging 34 per month compared with more than 50 monthly in 2025. The bottleneck stems from three factors: delayed CFM International LEAP-1A engine deliveries, a shortage of Pratt & Whitney PW1100G engines and a forward fuselage panel rework discovered late last year. Airbus has expanded its supply chain management team by 150 percent to address the constraints.

Sources: Flight Global

Australia Opens A$200 Million Deep Maintenance Facility for P-8A Poseidon Fleet

Australia has opened a new A$200 million Deep Maintenance Modification Facility at RAAF Base Edinburgh for the Boeing P-8A Poseidon maritime patrol aircraft fleet. The facility will support aircraft operated by the Royal Australian Air Force and partner nations, strengthening sovereign maintenance capability and reducing reliance on overseas sustainment. An upgrade programme covering 10 aircraft will begin at Edinburgh from September 2026, involving more than 300,000 hours of maintenance work over four years, with each aircraft requiring approximately 7.5 months to complete. The facility is a cornerstone of Australia’s defence industrial strategy.

Sources: Flight Global

Lufthansa Group Approves $7.7 Billion Order for 20 More A350 and 787 Widebodies

The Lufthansa Group supervisory board has approved a $7.7 billion order for 20 additional widebody aircraft, split evenly between ten Airbus A350-900s and ten Boeing 787-9s. Deliveries are scheduled between 2032 and 2034 as part of the carrier’s largest-ever fleet modernisation programme. The twinjets will replace older, less efficient long-haul aircraft across the group’s airlines. Lufthansa currently operates 31 A350-900s and 16 787-9s, and the dual-source strategy maintains competition between the two manufacturers. CEO Carsten Spohr called the agreement a firm commitment to premium quality and further reducing carbon dioxide emissions.

Sources: Flight Global

ITP Aero Forecasts Strong 2026 Growth After Record Revenue and Expanded GTF Role

Spanish engine manufacturer ITP Aero is forecasting another year of strong growth after reporting revenues of €1.88 billion in 2025, a 17 percent year-on-year increase, with EBIT rising more than 30 percent to €321 million. The Bain Capital-owned company is expanding its aftermarket position on the Pratt & Whitney geared turbofan, having signed a five-year agreement for PW1500G and PW1900G stator assembly repair. MRO currently accounts for about 10 percent of annual revenues, with a target of 20–25 percent within five years. Its Dallas-based BP Aero facility plans to add a second shop by the end of 2026.

Sources: Flight Global

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