SITA’s agreement to acquire Flightscape from CAE puts a spotlight on an increasingly important part of the aviation industry: the software that helps airlines manage their daily operations. Announced on 26 October 2026, the transaction values Flightscape at an enterprise value of US$500 million, subject to customary adjustments. The deal is expected to close in the first half of 2027, subject to regulatory approvals and other conditions. What does Flightscape do? Flightscape provides software that helps airlines plan flights, manage crews, control operations and coordinate ground activities and in-flight services. According to SITA, its systems are used daily by more than 90 airlines. These activities are closely connected. A delayed aircraft, for example, can affect crew schedules, gates, connecting passengers...
Aviation and aerospace mergers and acquisitions are gathering pace in 2026, with activity extending beyond headline acquisitions to smaller specialist businesses. 154 commercial aerospace transactions in eight months. Janes Capital Partners tracked 154 publicly disclosed transactions through August—already close to the 159 recorded during the whole of the record year, 2019. Their combined value reached approximately US$14 billion, according to data reported by Reuters. Deal numbers were approaching a record, although transaction value remained below the US$37.5 billion recorded across 157 deals in 2025. Private equity exits increased by 50%. Across the broader global aerospace and defence sector, S&P Global Market Intelligence recorded 30 private equity and venture capital exits between January and August, compared with 20 during the same...
easyJet has completed its acquisition of Slovenian aircraft maintenance specialist Adria Tehnika, reportedly valued at approximately €4.1 million. The transaction represents more than the purchase of an established MRO facility. It reflects a wider strategy by easyJet to bring greater control of heavy aircraft maintenance into its own operations. Adria Tehnika operates five maintenance lines at Ljubljana Airport and has already completed more than 200 major maintenance checks for easyJet over the past decade. Following its acquisition of SR Technics' Malta maintenance operation in 2024, easyJet is steadily building an internal European maintenance network. The commercial reasoning is compelling. Controlling maintenance capacity can improve aircraft availability, reduce dependence on external providers and provide greater certainty over maintenance scheduling and costs....
German private equity investor AURELIUS has completed its acquisition of Marshall Aerospace, one of Britain's most established military aircraft maintenance and engineering specialists.The attraction is clear. Marshall has decades of expertise supporting the C-130 Hercules, long-standing relationships with international defence customers and a portfolio of specialist engineering and manufacturing contracts.For AURELIUS, the acquisition offers an established position in the defence aftermarket, where aircraft sustainment, upgrades and fleet life-extension programmes provide opportunities for long-term growth.However, the transaction comes with an unusual challenge. Marshall must vacate its historic Cambridge Airport facilities by June 2029, and its future operational location remains undecided.With the previous relocation plan to Cranfield abandoned over cost concerns, AURELIUS faces an important investment decision: how to preserve Marshall's specialist...
Barnes Aerospace has acquired Scotland-based ATL Turbine Services, marking an important step in the expansion of its global aftermarket business.More than simply adding another repair company, the acquisition gives Barnes its first dedicated aeroengine component repair and overhaul operation in Europe.ATL brings more than 30 years of experience together with specialist hot-section repair, engineering and coating capabilities. Its Dundee operation also gives Barnes a strategic base from which to support customers across Europe, the Middle East and Africa.Coming shortly after the acquisition of Jet AirWerks in the U.S., the move points towards a clear strategy: building a broader global repair network capable of supporting engine components throughout their lifecycle, while positioning those capabilities closer to customers.
