The European Air Safety Agency (EASA) recently approved the design and usage of a higher-weight new generation Airbus A350-1000. The Rolls Royce powered, Extra Wide Body (XWB) Airbus A350 aircraft has been certified for a maximum take-off weight of 308 tonnes, with a maximum landing weight of 236 tonnes. Qatar Airways is set to be the first carrier to operate such an aircraft, with delivery expected in late 2018.

The International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO) has announced new protocols to combat the threat of technological hijacks of aircraft. ICAO plans to implement The Beijing Protocol, which includes new security measures aimed at protecting civil aviation against unlawful interference and seizure through technological means such as systems hacking, entered effect on January 1st 2018 after it was ratified by 22 member states.

Indian carrier, Jet Airways, has suspend two senior Boeing 777 pilots after it was discovered both had left the cockpit unattended during an argument in early January 2018. The aircraft was operating a flight from London to Mumbai when the pilots reportedly exited the cockpit due to a misunderstanding, The cockpit was unmanned for under a minute whilst the aircraft continue flying under autopilot. The occurrence was reported to India's Director General of Civil Aviation who made the decision to suspend the pilots whilst an investigation is underway.