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] Archer Aviation plans to launch a network of air taxis in Southern California in time for the FIFA World Cup matches in Los Angeles in 2026. Smart Cities Dive
• [New] Global aviation emissions could be reduced by 50-75% through combining three strategies to boost efficiency: flying only the most fuel-efficient aircraft, switching to all-economy layouts, and increasing passenger loads. EurekAlert!
• [New] To meet the RefuelEU Aviation and FuelEU Maritime targets, around 20 million tonnes of sustainable fuels (biofuels and e-fuels) will be needed by 2035. Mirage News
• [New] The incremental cost of airline purchases of Sustainable Aviation Fuel is expected to reach $4.5 billion in 2026, with the expectation of 2.4 million tonnes of SAF being available (0.8% of total fuel consumption). TravelMole
• [New] The cost of compliance with the Carbon Offsetting and Reduction Scheme for International Aviation is expected to grow to $1.7 billion for 2026 (up from $1.3 billion for 2025). TravelMole
• [New] China will probably develop integrated arrested landing systems and demonstrate coordinated launches of multiple loyal wingman drones, potentially achieving 4-6 aircraft sortie generation within 30 minutes from austere locations by late 2026. Drone Warfare
• [New] Boeing plans to reach 47 aircraft per month by mid-2026. AviationOutlook
• [New] Boeing is ramping up the 787 program, which has reached seven aircraft per month and plans to increase to 10 per month in 2026. AirInsight
• [New] In 2026, organizations will feel growing pressure to move beyond pilots as they look for efficiency, resilience, and measurable impact. DataCenterKnowledge
• [New] Air-to-air missiles pose a great threat to Ukrainian aircraft. EADaily
• [New] Naturally, Swift Centre forecasters remain sceptical that mass adoption of humanoid robots will occur in 2026, viewing pilot programs within Tesla's own factories as more likely than general retail availability. UnHerd
• [New] Tesla plans European and Asian pilots post-April, leveraging Starlink satellites for uniformity. acetesla
• [New] Brands like Stitch Fix and Shopify AI pilots show 30-50% uplift in click-through and purchase intent when an AI predicts products at a more individual level. TechRound
• [New] Commercial electric aircraft programmes targeting 2030 deployment could require battery energy densities exceeding current technology capabilities, driving demand for advanced materials including silicon nanowires, lithium metal anodes, and solid-state electrolytes. Discovery Alert
• [New] 2026 is a time for technologies once confined to laboratories or pilot projects to be introduced into real-world systems, revealing both their potential and their limitations, to ripen further or be harvested for use. The Manila Times
• [New] In 2026 we will see AI shift from isolated pilot programs to full enterprise-scale deployment, driven by clearer return on investment. Chief Healthcare Executive
• [New] After a year dominated by pilots and controlled trials, 2026 is expected to define which AI technologies scale across real production environments and which remain limited to demonstrations. MachineToolNews.ai
• [New] Boeing delivered 537 commercial aircraft in 2025 while simultaneously managing a historic acquisition, ramping production rates, and working toward critical certifications that will shape its trajectory through the remainder of the decade. AviationOutlook
• [New] By 2030, the probability of an individual commercial aircraft encountering a piece of debris could reach 1 in 1,000, based on earlier modeling. The Daily Galaxy - Great Discoveries Channel
• [New] eVTOL aircraft will achieve fully piloted operations, constructed to meet FAA safety standards. Interesting Engineering
• [New] Sustainable aviation fuels will become one of the most defining and financially consequential forces shaping aviation in 2026. cockpitinnovation
• [New] Joby Aviation will launch air taxi services in Dubai by early 2026. Veritas Electronics Kenya

Last updated: 11 January 2026