Aviation News: 2026-09-21
Curated industry headlines published on 2026-09-21.
- Simple Flying · 23:50 UTC
China Establishes 108,000 Square-Mile No-Fly Zone After Dramatic Beijing Tower Crash
An Italy-sized flight ban now enforces strict tracking and preapproved routes across Beijing, Tianjin and Hebei.
- Simple Flying · 23:00 UTC
The Silent 4-Year-Old Qantas Airbus A380 Decision That Predicted The Fleet's Early 2028 Retirement
Dragged down by higher fuel prices and buoyed by impending A350-1000ULR deliveries, Qantas will retire its A380s early.
- Simple Flying · 22:43 UTC
American Airlines To Lead Phoenix's 1st New Terminal In Nearly 40 Years
Construction could start as early as 2029 with a total cost around $4.5 billion.
- FlightGlobal · 22:41 UTC
Finland’s first F-35s arrive home with full fleet expected by 2030
Helsinki plans to field 64 of the single-engined strike fighters. Finland has brought home its first batch of US-made Lockheed Martin F-35 stealth fighters. Two of the conventional take-off...
- Simple Flying · 21:18 UTC
These 14 Small US Cities Just Got Awarded $12 Million To Support Air Service
Small airports leverage federal funding to entice carriers, revive lost routes and support marketing to rebuild connectivity.
- Simple Flying · 21:00 UTC
Why Air Canada's 30 New Airbus A321XLRs Are The Real Test Of Engine Reliability
The carrier is receiving its XLRs powered by improved Pratt & Whitney GTF Advantage engines.
- Simple Flying · 20:00 UTC
The United States' Quietest Commercial Airports By Passenger Volume
Some US commercial airports handle millions of passengers each year, but these 10 recorded fewer than 12,000 enplanements in 2025.
- Simple Flying · 20:00 UTC
Air Canada Is Launching 11 Major New Nonstop Long-Haul Routes: See List & Map Now
They're all in Europe, Asia and South America. Find them all now!
- AeroTime Hub · 19:46 UTC
Two killed in firefighting helicopter crash in California’s Yosemite National Park
Two people were killed when a firefighting helicopter crashed while battling the Dome Fire in California’s Yosemite National… The post Two killed in firefighting helicopter crash in Ca...
- AeroTime Hub · 19:29 UTC
New York flights disrupted after ATC communications failure
Flights across the New York area were disrupted on September 21, 2026, after an air traffic control communications… The post New York flights disrupted after ATC communications failure...
- Simple Flying · 19:27 UTC
"ATC Zero": Major Equipment Failures Ground All Flights To JFK, EWR, LGA, PHL, BOS
A severed backup fiber line triggered ATC Zero conditions, grounding major Northeast airports and sending disruption toward Boston.
- AeroTime Hub · 19:10 UTC
US airlines oppose Air China request for extra New York and Washington flights
Major US airlines are opposing Air China’s request for two additional roundtrip flights between Beijing and New York… The post US airlines oppose Air China request for extra New York a...
- Simple Flying · 19:00 UTC
Southwest Airlines Cancels All Routes From Major US Airport: See Affected Flights Now
The move is part of Southwest’s wider network changes.
- FlightGlobal · 18:04 UTC
Westwind ambulance suffered burst tyre before damaging Las Vegas excursion
Canadian-registered medical jet had been bound for Toronto.US investigators have disclosed that a tyre burst preceded a runway excursion involving an ambulance executive jet at Las Vegas las...
- FlightGlobal · 17:01 UTC
Breeze urges FAA to bar legacy carriers from buying defunct Spirit’s slots
Low-cost carrier asked regulators to place more conditions on the future transfer of slots purchased by JetBlue. Breeze Airways and other low-cost carriers are urging regulators to preserve...
- FlightGlobal · 15:58 UTC
US Air Force retires its last EC-130H
The retirement formalises the transition to the new EA-37B jet, which has assumed the Compass Call name. A formal retirement ceremony was held at Davis-Monthan AFB in Arizona on 18 September...
- AeroTime Hub · 13:51 UTC
Swissport expands Latin America footprint with Colombian acquisition
Swissport International is looking to expand its Latin America network through the acquisition of Colombian ground services company,… The post Swissport expands Latin America footprint...
- AeroTime Hub · 13:50 UTC
Finland’s first F-35 delivery leaves one jet stranded in the Azores
One of the three Finnish Air Force F-35A Lightning II fighters assigned to the type’s first delivery flight… The post Finland’s first F-35 delivery leaves one jet stranded in the...
- FlightGlobal · 13:04 UTC
Iberia authorised to carry out unrestricted heavy maintenance on A350 fleet
Spanish carrier has spent two years preparing its facilities and workforce for the aircraft. Iberia’s MRO division has obtained unrestricted approval from the Spanish Aviation Safety and Sec...
- FlightGlobal · 13:00 UTC
Canada’s Harbour Air to acquire Pacific Coastal Airlines in regional expansion push
The combined group’s fleet will reach 25 communities in British Columbia. Canadian seaplane operator Harbour Air is set to acquire Pacific Coastal Airlines, combining the two into a new airl...
- FlightGlobal · 12:33 UTC
Flydubai launches cabin retrofit programme as fleet surpasses 100 aircraft
Middle Eastern carrier will install lie-flat business-class seats and larger overhead bins. For the next phase of its growth strategy, Flydubai will begin a new cabin retrofit programme as i...
- AeroTime Hub · 12:24 UTC
BEA reenacts night flight to see how runway lighting impacted Nice near miss
French accident investigators at the Bureau of Enquiry and Analysis for Civil Aviation Safety (BEA) reenacted a night… The post BEA reenacts night flight to see how runway lighting imp...
- AeroTime Hub · 12:02 UTC
Ex-Airbus Commercial Aircraft CEO to chair Vertical Aerospace board of directors
Former Airbus Commercial Aircraft Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Fabrice Brégier has been appointed Chair of the Board of… The post Ex-Airbus Commercial Aircraft CEO to chair Vertical A...
- AeroTime Hub · 11:37 UTC
Japan operates Chinook from landing ship to fight Indonesia wildfires
Japan has moved one of its three CH-47 Chinook helicopters to a landing ship off Indonesia’s West Kalimantan… The post Japan operates Chinook from landing ship to fight Indonesia...
- FlightGlobal · 10:45 UTC
Vertical picks former Airbus commercial chief Bregier as new chair
French executive succeeds long-term predecessor Domhnal Slattery. In a notable coup, the UK’s Vertical Aerospace has appointed former Airbus commercial aircraft chief Fabrice Bregier a...
- AeroTime Hub · 10:11 UTC
UK airport disarray as Prestwick air traffic center suffers ‘technical issue’
The National Air Traffic Services (NATS) center in Prestwick, Scotland, has been struck by a “technical issue” resulting… The post UK airport disarray as Prestwick air traf...
- FlightGlobal · 10:06 UTC
Pressure on NATS continues after disruption at primary Scottish centre
Prestwick air traffic facility experiences ‘connectivity’ issue less than two weeks after major UK airspace control failure. UK air navigation service NATS states that it has res...
- FlightGlobal · 09:55 UTC
Defiant Fernandes talks up AirAsia brand power, but operating realities loom large
In a two-hour press conference, AirAsia’s co-founder insisted the airline was still very much alive, even though it has taken a financial battering. Hours after AirAsia co-founder Tony...
- AeroTime Hub · 07:55 UTC
Embraer and Japan Airlines extend E170 and E190 maintenance agreement
Embraer and Japan Airlines have extended an E170 and E190 maintenance, repair and spare-parts agreement to support the… The post Embraer and Japan Airlines extend E170 and E190 mainten...