AAV News in Brief 01 September 2026

ASL Aviation acquires 2 Boeing 747-400ERFs: ASL Aviation said it has acquired two Boeing 747-400ERF freighter aircraft that have been operating within the ASL Group fleet as leased aircraft. The aircraft MSN 33516 (OE-IFB) and MSN 33945 (OE-IFD) are operated by ASL Airlines Belgium. The acquisition of both aircraft was completed on August 7th, 2026, with ownership transferred to ASL Aviation. Both are established aircraft within the group’s long-haul freighter fleet and will continue to support ASL’s global air cargo operations. Their acquisition further strengthens ASL Aviation Holdings’ commitment to investing in its long-haul freighter business and expanding the Group’s owned aircraft portfolio. The transaction forms part of ASL Aviation’s ongoing fleet and asset strategy, supporting the continued development of its international air cargo platform and its ability to meet the long-term requirements of its airline operations and customers. Aviator signs four-year Lufthansa Group ground handling deal: Aviator Airport Alliance, a leading full-range provider of aviation services and part of Avia Solutions Group, has signed a four-year contract with Lufthansa Group to provide full ground handling services at Gothenburg-Landvetter Airport (GOT). The agreement covers five of the group’s carriers – Lufthansa Airlines, Lufthansa City Airlines, Austrian Airlines, Brussels Airlines and Swiss International Air Lines. The contract runs from 1 December 2026 to 30 November 2030 and covers approximately 70 turnarounds per week. Aviator will deliver full handling services, including de-icing and anti-icing – capabilities that are critical to maintaining punctuality through the demanding Nordic winter, when the agreement takes effect. The agreement strengthens Aviator’s position at Gothenburg-Landvetter and within the Swedish market, where the company provides ground handling to a range of international carriers. Smiths Detection achieves TSA Level 2AB certification for checkpoint screening: Smiths Detection, a global leader in threat detection and security screening technologies, announced that it has achieved Transportation Security Administration (TSA) Level 2AB certification for prohibited item (PI) detection software to be used at airport checkpoints. Level 2AB certification confirms that Smiths Detection’s software meets TSA’s most rigorous explosive detection standard for checkpoint screening at US airports. This certification supports TSA’s goals of strengthening security, improving efficiency and enhancing the passenger experience. When deployed with Smiths Detection computed tomography (CT) systems, the certified software uses machine learning to assess carry-on baggage images and identify those requiring operator attention. Philip Tackett, Ph.D., VP of Technology at Smiths Detection Inc, said: “Achieving TSA Level 2AB certification is an important milestone for checkpoint security and reflects the strength of our automated detection capabilities. We are proud to support TSA’s continued modernization of the passenger checkpoint.” For Editorial Inquiries Contact: Editor Matt Driskill at [email protected] For Advertising Inquiries Contact: Head of Sales Sally Passey at [email protected]