Boeing has received approval from the US Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) to begin the next stage of flight certification testing for the 777-9. The manufacturer confirms that it has received type inspection authorisation (TIA) phase 4A approval. On 17 March at the Bank of America Global Industrials Conference, Boeing's chief financial officer and executive vice-president of finance Jesus Malave said that it was waiting for approval for TIA 4 "very shortly". Malave says the 777-9 is "a little bit behind from a certification standpoint than 737-7 and 737-10, but we're on the right path", and reaffirmed that first deliveries are expected in 2027. Back in October 2025, Boeing's managing director of customer finance Mike Warner indicated the process of securing type inspection authorisation for the 777X had been slower than expected and that was causing delays to the programme. The OEM has been awaiting type inspection authorisation from the FAA since 2023 which would mean that the regulator is satisfied that it can begin the formal process to evaluate awarding type certification to the 777-9. Boeing launched the 777X programme at the Dubai air show in 2013, which is comprised of the larger -9 variant, a smaller but longer-range -8, and a freighter variant of the -8.

Rolls‑Royce has secured €64 million ($74 million) from the EU's Clean Aviation research programme to advance the development and planned ground testing of its UltraFan 30 demonstrator for future single‑aisle aircraft. The UK engine manufacturer helms a Clean Aviation project named UNIFIED – for "ultra novel and innovative fully integrated engine demonstrations" – which was announced in September 2025. Ground testing of the UltraFan 30 demonstrator is targeted for 2028, says Rolls-Royce. Participants in the UNIFIED project include Airbus, ITP Aero, Lufthansa Technik, TU Darmstadt, Aerospace Transmissions Technologies, Imperial College London and the aerospace research organisations DLR, NLR, ONERA and INSA Lyon. The project is intended as a "decisive step" toward a 30% reduction in greenhouse-gas emissions for short‑ to medium‑range aircraft entering service in 2035 compared with 2020, says Clean Aviation head of unit project management Maria Calvo Blanco. Rolls-Royce director of research and technology Alan Newby describes UNIFIED as "an important step in advancing the UltraFan technologies that could underpin a future narrowbody application", adding: "The narrowbody segment is central to global aviation growth and delivering step-change improvements in efficiency in this market is key to long-term sustainability."

Qantas has been awarded an additional 97 seats to operate a fifth weekly frequency between Brisbane and Honiara from 29 March despite opposition from Solomon Airlines. Australia's International Air Services Commission issued a determination on 13 March that awards the capacity for five years, with the service to be operated using Embraer 190s wet-leased Alliance Airlines. Qantas's application, which was filed on 23 January, drew only one response during the public comment period from Solomon Airlines which objected, citing that traffic on the route has been in decline in recent years, and the added competition threatened the viability of the route. "While the Commission acknowledges the concerns raised by Solomon Airlines regarding commercial impacts, the Commission considers that these primarily relate to the effect of increased competition on Solomon Airlines’ own commercial operations, rather than any demonstrable detriment to Australian public benefit," the determination states. Qantas's additional frequency will operate on Tuesdays when neither airline operates on the route, which the Commission says "consumers are likely to benefit from increased frequency and choice, and competitive pricing as a result of the additional capacity on the route". Solomon Airlines flies thrice-weekly services between Brisbane and Honiara using Airbus A320s, plus a weekly service to Munda, Cirium schedules data show.