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] 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
• [New] Dubai has granted Joby Aviation exclusive rights for six years, with commercial operations expected by early 2026. Veritas Electronics Kenya
• [New] The eVTOL sector is poised for a step change in 2026, and Joby Aviation is uniquely positioned to lead it. Ainvest
• [New] Cybersecurity is no longer a secondary operational concern, it is becoming one of the most strategically sensitive vulnerabilities across global aviation. cockpitinnovation
• [New] The Austrian aircraft will undergo a mandatory, intensive acceptance test. Militar Aktuell - Militar News & Analysen zu internatio
• [New] Boeing accelerated F-15EX Eagle II production in 2025, delivering Lot 2 aircraft with successful first flights, ramping assembly to support 90 units in progress and aiming for two per month by 2026, while enhancing its role as a high-payload battle manager complementing stealth fighters. Defense Tech and Acquisition
• [New] In a risk-mitigation strategy, DRDO is evaluating the Dry Kaveri on a limited-series Tejas aircraft post-2030, strictly as a flying testbed. Indian Masterminds
• [New] Funding will enable the Coast Guard to procure an estimated 17 new icebreakers, 21 new cutters, more than 40 helicopters and six C-130J aircraft. The Center Square
• [New] Broad collaboration among governments, fuel producers, airlines, and aircraft manufacturers will be essential to increase production, lower costs, and accelerate aviation's path to net-zero emissions. Yahoo News
• [New] Carriers expect 2026 to bring new projects, clearer enforcement signals, and more frequent updates on pilot data. Infrastructure Brief
• [New] Aviation air travel demand (number of person trips) will double by 2050. DNV
• [New] The growth in aviation energy demand means that oil consumption will not decrease but rather increase 18% by 2060. DNV
• [New] The hospitality, aviation, and retail sectors in Turkey will be significantly revitalized by the influx of visitors. Travel And Tour World
• [New] The potential delivery of up to 200 Joby aircraft and related services valued at $1 billion is expected over the coming years. / Saudi Arabia Stocktwits
• [New] Cities like Berlin and Munich are expected to implement pilot projects that include air taxis as part of smart city transportation. Precedence Research
• [New] For aviation, 2026 may mark the year when supersonic flight shifts from the fringes of experimentation toward tangible progress in everyday air travel. Electronic Specifier
• [New] A Presidential Executive Order has directed the Department of Transportation and the Federal Aviation Administration to allow mature eVTOL aircraft to begin operations in select cities as early as 2026, even before full certification is completed. Carbon Credits

Last updated: 04 January 2026