Fred Smith’s Company Now Hosts Over 500,000 Employees and 700 Planes

FedEx announced on June 22 that its founder and former executive chairman, Fred Smith, has died at 80 years old. The Marine Corps veteran’s creation stands strong today, having grown more than 50 times since its establishment in 1971.

Manufacturer Sends Request for Information to Engine Makers

Boeing has begun the slow, careful steps toward replacing the long-troubled 737 family…this time without a MAX attached to the name. The company issued a request for information (RFI) to several leading engine manufacturers, seeking proposals for a ducted propulsion system rated around 30,000 pounds of thrust.

Signs LOI For New Aircraft As ATR Enters U.S. Charter Market

ATR, a joint venture between Airbus and Leonardo, announced that public charter operator JSX will lease two ATR 42-600 aircraft to expand its premium offerings while also signaling the entry of ATR into the U.S. market. The announcement was made at this year’s 55th Paris Air Show at Le Bourget Airport.

Pilots Were Unable to Contact Denver Air Traffic Controllers for Several Minutes

On May 12, pilots flying into Denver International Airport briefly experienced every aviator’s least favorite scenario: radio silence from air traffic control. According to the Federal Aviation Administration, the 90-second communications failure was caused by “overlapping outages to radio transmitters and circuits” at the Denver ARTCC in Longmont, Colorado.

Vietnam Airlines’ MoU Adds to Airbus’s Paris Air Show Customer List

Vietnamese carrier Vietjet recently signed a Memorandum of Understanding with Airbus for a 100-aircraft order, plus an option for 50 more later on. The new A321neo jets will add to the airline’s current fleet of more than 100 Airbus aircraft.

16 Will Operate Under a Multi-Year Delta Contract, Replacing Aging Aircraft

On June 18, Embraer and SkyWest announced a deal for 60 new E175 regional jets with the option to purchase 50 more. The first 16 aircraft in the set will operate under a running contract with Delta Air Lines, moving into service as early as 2027.

Deals Heating Up At Paris Air Show 2025

Saudi Arabia-Based aircraft lessor AviLease announced an initial order for 10 A350F freighter aircraft and 30 A320neo family aircraft, with a potential future increase to 22 A350F freighters and 55 A320neo aircraft. The deal was signed at the Paris Air Show 2025, as deal-making gets underway at the world's largest show for aerospace and defense companies to display their latest and greatest.