First Flight

FlightGlobal & Amber Elias

Welcome to First Flight, a podcast by FlightGlobal, hosted by Amber Elias. In each episode, we will be speaking with CEO’s, experts and innovators from across the aviation industry; covering topics including airlines, defence, manufacturing and airports, to travel, world events and sustainability. Join First Flight as we explore the length and breadth of a global industry. First Flight is a production of FlightGlobal, and is executive produced by Amber Elias.

  • 19 minutes 26 seconds
    Runways to radio waves: LaGuardia crash highlights failed safety nets, US airlines brace for altimeter replacements

    The deadly 22 March collision involving an Air Canada Express CRJ900 exposed holes in overlapping aviation safety networks. Meanwhile, the entire US aerospace industry is coming to terms with a pending requirement to replace all altimeters on all aircraft to prevent interference from new 5G cellular networks, a multi-billion-dollar effort.

    13 April 2026, 5:00 am
  • 27 minutes 7 seconds
    Europe takes on a bigger share of NATO defence spending and the US loses an E-3 to Iran

    The annual report from NATO's secretary general is out and it shows some notable trends.

    More than a year of threats and berating from US President Donald Trump seems to have spurred European governments to take on a greater share of financial responsibility for collective defence. Figures for 2025 indicate Europe and Canada now account for 48% of NATO spending versus only 40% in 2024.

    Meanwhile in the Middle East, the US Air Force lost a Boeing E-3 Sentry airborne warning and control aircraft while on the ground in an Iranian long-range strike. The incident calls into question the ability of the USAF to execute its agile combat employment strategy for protecting aircraft on the ground.


    FlightGlobal's European defence editor joins Americas defence reporter Ryan Finnerty to discuss spending trends in Europe and the future of the crucial airborne early warning mission set.

    6 April 2026, 6:00 am
  • 19 minutes 31 seconds
    Adding fuel to fire: How are airlines managing fuel price uncertainty?

    It is a month since the Iran conflict started, and a more far-reaching impact is beginning to take root, centred around the volatility of fuel prices. With fuel being the single largest expense for any airline, any spike in pricing will ultimately impact profitability. 


    FlightGlobal’s head of airlines, Lewis Harper, joins Asia-Pacific airlines editor Alfred Chua to discuss what operators are doing to tackle the issue, and what the longer-term implications are. 

    30 March 2026, 1:20 am
  • 15 minutes 43 seconds
    The only way is up: Vertical flight on show and Airbus lands a heavyweight of freight

    With the proliferation of eVTOL projects, vertical take-off and landing is no longer the exclusive privilege of helicopters.

    Participants in this specialist sector of the aviation industry have been demonstrating their latest products and developments at the Verticon 2026 exhibition in Atlanta.

    FlightGlobal’s European aerospace editor Dominic Perry discusses the highlights of the show and asks whether electric air mobility is just smoke-and-mirrors or a realistic prospect.

    And as Airbus secures the most significant order yet for its A350F, air transport editor David Kaminski explains why the deal represents more than just a set of healthy numbers in the new freighter’s backlog.

    23 March 2026, 8:42 am
  • 41 minutes 23 seconds
    Epic Fury or Epic Blunder? Dissecting the US-Israeli air war over Iran

    It’s been more than two weeks since US President Donald Trump launched military action against Iran.

    Dubbed Operation Epic Fury, the air and naval campaign has featured more than 200 fighter aircraft, all three of the US Air Force’s bomber types, and two aircraft carrier strike groups, plus the entire Israeli air force.

    Despite facing that armada, Iran remains defiant, effectively halting ship traffic through the Strait of Hormuz and disrupting vital energy flows.

    The inability of air power to achieve political and strategic goals appears to have caught the Trump Administration by surprise, despite numerous examples from history that have shown the limitations of air campaigns.

    FlightGlobal's managing defence editor Greg Waldron joins Americas defence reporter Ryan Finnerty to discuss the latest developments in the war and what we may see next.

    17 March 2026, 11:45 am
  • 22 minutes 35 seconds
    How important is the Middle East to the global airline industry?

    With the Iran conflict grounding aircraft, closing airports and stranding passengers, we assess the health of the Middle East airline industry going into this crisis – and the potential impact of a prolonged war.

    FlightGlobal’s head of airlines, Lewis Harper, joins Asia airlines editor Alfred Chua to discuss the key data and developments.

    9 March 2026, 2:54 am
  • 15 minutes 58 seconds
    Balance of power: Weighing engine concepts for the next-gen narrowbody

    When Airbus and Boeing commit to new single-aisle designs to replace their ubiquitous narrowbodies, the most anticipated decision will be the choice of propulsion.

    Engine manufacturers Pratt & Whitney and CFM International are focusing on separate strategies, pitching the conventional and conservative ducted fan against the radical open rotor.

    Each concept has its supporters and detractors. Each holds appeal and carries risk.

    FlightGlobal's Americas aerospace editor Jon Hemmerdinger joins air transport editor David Kaminski-Morrow to discuss a power struggle which will potentially reshape the engine sector and the broader aerospace industry.

    4 March 2026, 2:08 pm
  • 22 minutes 56 seconds
    The Twists and Turns of India's Many Fighter Modernisation Efforts

    Of all the head scratching military procurement programmes across the world, few are more confounding than India's haphazard efforts at fighter aircraft modernisation.

    Cancelled development efforts, shifting requirements, and struggling attempts at domestic production have all combined to stymie several attempts at modernising the Indian air force.

    The geopolitical pressure is on, following last year's air battle between India and Pakistan, and New Delhi is once again attempting to recapitalise its fleet — both with new Rafale fighters from Dassault and another crack at domestic aircraft production.

    FlightGlobal's managing editor for defence Greg Waldron joins Ryan Finnerty to discuss what's in store for India's latest attempt at a tactical revamp.

    23 February 2026, 6:03 am
  • 11 minutes 42 seconds
    Japan’s airlines grapple with tricky demographic trends

    FlightGlobal’s airlines team take a look at the impact a rapidlyageing population in Japan is having on carriers such as ANA and JapanAirlines.

    Touching on topics such as networks and fleets, they also considerhow trends differ – sometimes in favour of airline growth – in other markets.

    16 February 2026, 7:37 am
  • 6 minutes 15 seconds
    Chinese aircraft take centre stage at the Singapore airshow

    In this special episode of FlightGlobal Focus, we give you a brief summary of everything that happened at the 2026 Singapore airshow, which took place in the island city-state last week.

    China took centre stage at the show, with major appearances by the country's military and commercial aircraft. Highlights included flying displays by Chinese-made J-10C fighters and the new C919 passenger jet.

    A model of China's new J-35A stealth was also on display, generating significant interest among several military delegations.

    Asia airlines reporter Alfred Chua recaps all that, plus a review of new orders placed at the Singapore air show.

    9 February 2026, 1:00 am
  • 22 minutes 9 seconds
    What to expect at the Singapore airshow and World Defense Show

    With 2026 now in full-swing, FlightGlobal's defence editorial team is crisscrossing the globe to report from some the world's most important military trade shows and exhibitions, where international deals are made and leading manufacturers debut their latest hardware.

    In February we'll be attending the biannual Singapore airshow and the World Defense Show in Saudi Arabia, at a time when regional powers in the Indo-Pacific and Middle East are all expanding their defence capabilities.

    Flight's Asia defence editor Greg Waldron gives a preview of what to expect in Singapore, and some helpful tips for navigating southeast Asia's premier military conference.

    Meanwhile, our Europe defence editor Craig Hoyle shares his experiences from Saudi Arabia, as the Kingdom hopes to continue expanding the World Defense Show in Riyadh.

    2 February 2026, 2:53 am
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