Global Scans · Aviation · Weekly Summary

WHAT'S NEXT?: More than half of the expected new passengers over the next two decades will originate from China, which will displace the US as the world's largest aviation market by around 2029. More than half of the expected new passengers over the next two decades will originate from China, which will displace the US as the world's largest aviation market by around 2029. Sales of consumer and prosumer drones are soaring and the Federal Aviation Authority forecasts there will be more than 1.3 million licensed drone pilots by 2020 in the U.S. alone.

• [New] The DOD, under its PEO, Strategic Capabilities Office, is already pursuing microreactor pilots under Project Pele, expected online by 2026. JD Supra
• [New] On the positive side, aircraft shortages mean load factors are forecast to set a record high with airlines expected to fill 83.8% of all seats over the year 2026. GreenAir News
• [New] Beyond road transport, demand in hard-to-electrify sectors like aviation and maritime shipping remains strong, with low-carbon alternatives not expected to reach scale before 2035. DNV
• [New] Sustainable aviation fuel accounts for about 0.3% of the world's jet fuel use and was projected to reach only 0.7% by 2025. Yahoo Finance Canada
• [New] Testing will begin in early 2027 in partnership with satellite imagery firm Planet, launching two pilot satellites to test the hardware in Earth's orbit. Last Week in ConTech
• [New] By 2045, natural gas will be used as LNG primarily for high performance supersonic aviation, shipping, and industrial heat. Casey Handmer's blog
• [New] The skies of the coming decades will include not only conventional passenger jets, but also advanced air mobility aircraft, eVTOLs, unmanned aircraft systems, high-altitude platforms, and commercial space operations. Aviation Today
• [New] If widely adopted, Boeing's emissions reduction system could become an industry standard for planning and tracking emissions, and airlines could use it to decide which aircraft to retire, how much SAF to buy, or which operational improvements to implement. Simple Flying
• [New] The ReFuelEU Aviation Regulation requires a 2% SAF blend from 2025, rising to 6% in 2030 and 70% by 2050. IBA Group
• [New] ICAO's 5% cleaner-energy goal for 2030 is seen as a practical waypoint on the aviation industry's road to net zero. IBA Group
• [New] British Airways has partnered with Starlink to bring fast, reliable satellite Wi-Fi to over 500 aircraft from 2026. Meon Travel
• [New] Encouragingly, the UK Civil Aviation Authority has launched six BVLOS and medical delivery trial projects within controlled airspace, signalling a major step toward scalable, long-range drone logistics in 2026. COPTRZ
• [New] Thousands of Airbus planes are returning to normal service after being briefly grounded following a warning that solar radiation could interfere with onboard computers. BBC News
• [New] As the UK prepares for its busiest Christmas in aviation history, both business and leisure travelers will need to navigate high passenger volumes and winter weather. Travel And Tour World
• [New] Momentum in the telco-satellite convergence story is now shifting from pilots to commercial launches, some of which have already happened, although most of which will come online in 2025 and in the 2-3 years following. MWC Shanghai
• [New] The ECB Governing Council has confirmed that - assuming the EU co-legislators adopt the required Regulation during 2026 - a pilot phase could begin in mid 2027, with readiness for a possible first issuance by 2029. www.hoganlovells.com
• [New] Airbus projects global demand for 2,510 new freighters by 2043, including 900 large widebody aircraft. Aviation a2z
• [New] The flight test campaign is set for the second half of 2026, with Airbus using instrumented aircraft and established A350 data to shorten the certification process. Aviation a2z
• [New] Hyundai confirmed that its first customer-focused V2G pilot programme in Korea will go live by the end of 2025, beginning on Jeju Island, a region known for its high renewable-energy adoption. EVMechanica

Last updated: 14 December 2025