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American Airlines CFO Devon May stated (22-Oct-2026) the carrier has been conducting a widebody order contest between Boeing and Airbus for the past six or seven months, noting: "I think we are getting close" to announcing an order. Mr May stated the order would enable American to replace its 777-200 fleet over the next decade, adding the carrier would "have some additional growth in addition to the 19 or so 787s we have coming on and the options there". He noted American's widebody order book consists of 19 787-9 aircraft with options for 28. [more - Aviation Week]

US FAA Administrator Bryan Bedford stated (20-Oct-2026) the Strategic Management of Airspace, Routes and Trajectories (SMART) AI platform is not intended to "nationalise" airline schedules, noting the tool will instead be used to optimise carriers' use of the National Airspace System. Mr Bedford noted the FAA will use the platform to "provide recommendations to the airlines on their own schedules and to reduce the number of conflicts". As previously reported by CAPA, the US Department of Transportation and the FAA announced the SMART platform in Sep-2026 which centralises 200 data streams such as weather patterns, flight paths, traffic flow and controller staffing metrics into one platform. [more - Aviation Week]

Groupe ADP announced (22-Oct-2026) the draft of its 2027-2034 Economic Regulation Agreement is expected to come into force on 01-Jan-2027, with the first fee increase to take effect from 01-Apr-2027. The draft agreement confirms the economic and industrial foundations of Groupe ADP's project for the Paris airports, while meeting the needs of airlines through the following measures:

• An investment programme of EUR8.2 billion, aimed at improving service quality, competitiveness, operational efficiency and decarbonisation;
• An increase in airport charges capped at an average of 2.1 points above the harmonised consumer price index;
• Fair compensation for the capital invested by Groupe ADP, with profitability of regulated assets and weighted average cost of capital convergence of 5.8% on average over the term of the agreement.

On the basis of the draft agreement, Groupe ADP retains the ability to finance the development of its non-regulated activities, distribute a dividend of 60% of attributable net income and maintain an unchanged credit rating. [more - original PR]

Airport Authority Hong Kong route development GM Ricky Chong stated (21-Oct-2026) the company is focused on expanding connectivity with the Chinese mainland, Southeast Asia, South Asia, Europe and North America. To support airline business cases, the airport emphasises access to the Greater Bay Area through its cross-border ferry and ground transport connections. Mr Chong added: "Airlines are able to access a catchment area that extends well beyond Hong Kong's local population, thereby enhancing route demand and network viability". Additionally, the commissioning of Hong Kong International Airport's three runway system in 2024 provides the infrastructure foundation for further expansion. Mr Chong said the system increases the airport's long term capacity by approximately 50%, enabling it to accommodate up to 120 million passengers and 10 million tonnes of cargo p/a. [more - Aviation Week]

Hokkaido Airports MD of aviation business development Minoru Onuma stated (21-Oct-2026) Southeast Asia is a priority for further growth, citing "strong economic growth" and rising demand for travel to Hokkaido. However, peak winter demand and busy daytime periods create capacity constraints. Hokkaido Airports is seeking to attract services in quieter periods through targeted incentives and market analysis, with Southeast Asian schedules offering opportunities to use available slots. Hokkaido Airports is also promoting spring travel to Southeast Asian visitors as part of a broader effort to reduce international seasonality. [more - Aviation Week]

London Heathrow Airport reported (21-Oct-2026) an adjusted profit before tax of GBP177 million (EUR211.41 million) for the nine months ended 30-Sep-2026, compared to a profit of GBP217 million (EUR259.19 million) during the same period in 2025. The airport stated its financial performance "remained robust in the face of continued geopolitical uncertainty in the Middle East", underlining the "strength of the hub model". EBITDA declined 6% year-on-year to GBP1.4 billion (EUR1.67 billion) in 3Q2026, impacted by "lower revenue from decreasing airport charges and higher operating costs due to higher business rates, National Insurance contributions and increased investment in technology". The airport served more than 100 long haul routes during summer 2026, including 68 routes which were "unique to the UK". It added that the growth of competitor hubs "highlights the need for additional capacity", with the airport "unable to serve the 40 airlines queueing to join or secure more slots" and losing its place as the most connected global airport to Istanbul Airport. Heathrow Airport CFO Sally Ding stated: "As competitor hubs grow and Heathrow risks falling behind, we must progress with expansion". [more - original PR]