Aerospace News – Late April 2026

Aircraft orders hit highest first-quarter total since 2013.

Commercial aircraft orders rose 9% year-on-year in the first quarter of 2026 to reach 569, marking the strongest start to a year for the sector since 2013, according to UK trade association ADS Group’s latest Economic Briefing.

The increase was largely driven by a 25% surge in single-aisle aircraft orders, underlining continued strength in short-haul travel demand despite a challenging global backdrop.

Sourced from The Manufacturer

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First quarter profits at Airbus have slumped by nearly half as the aerospace giant’s deliveries fell sharply.

The European-owned group’s commercial aircraft sales also declined by 11% to €8.4bn (£7.27bn) during the first three months of 2026 compared to a year ago, mainly due to the lower deliveries and US dollar depreciation.

During the period the group delivered 114 commercial aircraft against 136 aircraft in the same quarter last year, partly due to a shortage of engines.

Profits fell by 52% to €300m from €624m in the same period last year, on revenue of €12.7bn.

Sourced from The Business Desk

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Rolls-Royce secures major engine deal as Dreamliner partnership deepens.

Rolls-Royce has been selected by LATAM Airlines to supply engines for three new Boeing 787 Dreamliners.

The agreement will see the aircraft powered by Rolls-Royce’s Trent 1000 XE engines, marking a continuation of the long-standing relationship between the two companies.

The Trent 1000 XE incorporates a series of upgrades following a two-phase durability enhancement programme, including a redesigned high-pressure turbine blade that increases cooling airflow by 40%. Rolls-Royce says this delivers more than double the time-on-wing compared with earlier versions of the engine.

The engine improvements, alongside increased investment in maintenance, repair and overhaul capacity, are aimed at improving reliability and reducing aircraft downtime, with the company highlighting “aircraft on ground” performance as a key differentiator.

Sourced from The Business Desk