Advancing UK Aerospace, Defence, Security & Space Solutions Worldwide

Aerospace

Flybe purple reigns at Birmingham Airport

Flybe quite literally put the spotlight on Birmingham Airport last week, as it turned the Air Traffic Control (ATC) tower purple, completing its distinctive brand identity throughout the airport.

Flybe is the largest scheduled carrier by the number of daily movements at Birmingham and customers now have a consistent purple experience throughout their journey from check-in, through to the departure lounge and on arrival with the shining beacon at all times being the ATC tower. 

Flybe’s CEO Christine Ourmières-Widener, together with senior management colleagues, welcomed many of the city’s key business, travel and tourism leaders to the airport to share in the purple countdown celebration.

Advertisement
PTC rectangle

The eye-catching illumination of the air traffic control tower is at the very heart of airport operations and is in place for the start of Flybe’s 2017-18 Winter schedule that commenced last weekend (Sunday 29th October 2017).

Flybe has been operating at Birmingham since 1985 and, with such an established presence, it has long been an ambition to enhance the customer journey through the airport with a visible consistent reminder of the airline.

Ms Ourmières-Widener said: “Birmingham Airport’s ATC tower is the very heart of operations at this vital hub for Flybe. We wanted to establish a really strong branding presence and make our customers’ journey with us a truly consistent one. The illumination of the tower is the finishing touch to bring the power of Flybe purple to our Birmingham customers.

“We’re proud to continue connecting Midlands business and leisure travellers with many other regions throughout the UK and Europe as well as offering ‘One-stop to the World’ connections via our codeshare partners to numerous long haul destinations.

David Winstanley, Birmingham Airport’s COO said: “Flybe has been an airline partner of Birmingham Airport for over 28 years. This partnership started in November 1985 with a Birmingham to Jersey charter flight which carried 29 passengers under the airline name of Jersey European.  As our most long standing partner airline, it is fitting that Flybe should light up the Birmingham Airport Air Traffic Control Tower.

Advertisement
ODU RT

“Flybe has carried over 2.1 million passengers in the last calendar year so it’s great that passengers are now given the full Flybe service.  In addition to the tower, the terminal arrivals and departures channels are fully branded in the Flybe colours so passengers will get the full purple experience, which I’m sure they’ll love from start to finish.”

Flybe’s 2017-18 Winter schedule to and from Birmingham Airport features a choice of 23 routes with a choice of up to 682 flights a week.

Highlights of the Winter 2017/18 schedule include the seasonal introduction of six flights a week to Hamburg, as well as daily flights to Newquay over the Christmas holiday (22nd December – 1st January, excluding Christmas Day); and flights to Amsterdam will increase to a daily service.

 

Advertisement
Gulfstream banner
GE Aerospace to expand UK and European production capacity

Aerospace

GE Aerospace to expand UK and European production capacity

19 March 2026

GE Aerospace plans to invest more than €110 million across its European manufacturing sites this year as it looks to expand production capacity, accelerate advanced manufacturing and strengthen delivery, including significant investment in the upgrade of multiple sites across the UK.

Boeing hosts UK supplier trade mission

Aerospace

Boeing hosts UK supplier trade mission

19 March 2026

Boeing has hosted its fifth UK supplier trade mission in Seattle, welcoming a new cohort of UK suppliers over two days for briefings, factory tours and targeted business meetings aimed at boosting opportunities for future collaboration.

Air Charter Scotland to continue Wick-Aberdeen-Wick PSO route to August

Aerospace

Air Charter Scotland to continue Wick-Aberdeen-Wick PSO route to August

19 March 2026

Air Charter Scotland have been successful in their bid to continue operating the Wick-Aberdeen-Wick Public Service Obligation (PSO) route, through to 14th August, 2026.

Anti-drone tech patents surge

Aerospace Defence Security

Anti-drone tech patents surge

19 March 2026

The number of patent applications for anti-drone (counter-UAV) technologies filed globally increased by 27% to 126 last year*, up from 99 the year before, according to new research from intellectual property (IP) law firm Mathys & Squire.

Advertisement
PTC rectangle
Marshall Aerospace secures five SAIL Mark projects

Aerospace Defence Security

Marshall Aerospace secures five SAIL Mark projects

18 March 2026

Marshall Aerospace is advancing its expertise in the UK’s fast-growing unmanned aircraft systems (UAS) sector after securing five separate SAIL Mark assessment projects funded by Innovate UK and the Department for Transport.

Jet Zero Taskforce’s first annual report launched at SSWS

Aerospace Events

Jet Zero Taskforce’s first annual report launched at SSWS

18 March 2026

The UK Government and aviation industry yesterday set out significant progress towards decarbonising air travel, as Minister for Aviation, Maritime and Decarbonisation Keir Mather MP launched the Jet Zero Taskforce’s first annual report at the Sustainable Skies World Summit (SSWS).

Advertisement
ODU RT
Advertisement
FIA2026 animated banner