Read less, know more. All things aviation
Monday, May 11, 2026
Good Morning ✈️
This weekend, Boeing finally pushed the throttles forward on something the industry has been waiting years to see. Meanwhile, the budget airline shakeout is reshaping the fare landscape faster than analysts predicted. Strap in, there's a lot to cover this morning.
🗞️ Today's Headline: Boeing's First Production 777-9 Takes Flight
On May 7, 2026, the first production Boeing 777-9 lifted off from Paine Field in Everett, Washington.
The aircraft flew for approximately three hours, reaching 39,000 feet before returning to base. Boeing has confirmed first delivery to Lufthansa is targeted for 2027, running roughly seven years behind the program's original schedule and carrying approximately $15 billion in cumulative charges. (no surprise there)
Previous 777X test flights used instrumented prototype aircraft; this marks the first time a customer-configured production airframe has taken to the air, representing a meaningful shift from pure development testing toward production-focused validation activities.
It’s the first airplane to have “retractable” wings
📈 Airline Stocks
(Friday, May 8 Close)
Ticker | Price | Daily Change |
|---|---|---|
DAL | $58.78 | ▲ +1.45% |
UAL | $86.60 | ▲ +0.08% |
AAL | $10.30 | ▼ −2.37% |
LUV | $40.21 | ▲ +0.47% |
Spirit Airlines' May 2 liquidation yanked 1.8 million seats off the calendar overnight, and real-time pricing data shows fare inflation of 15–25% concentrated on routes where Spirit held double-digit market share. Jet fuel prices are up roughly 70% since the Iran conflict began in February. AAL's slide on Friday suggests investors aren't convinced American has enough pricing power to fully offset those costs.
🛩 Business Aviation
Private jet charter operators are already fielding early bookings tied to the 2026 FIFA World Cup, with industry forecasts projecting demand spikes of 200–300% at peak.
Through May 3, worldwide private jet departures were tracking 4.6% ahead of 2025 year-over-year, led by North America where the U.S. recorded nearly 32,000 total flights in the most recent week — an 11% year-over-year increase.
For operators and FBOs near World Cup host cities, inventory is moving fast. Early positioning on peak-match slots may be the difference between record revenue and watching the game from the FBO lounge.
🛫 General Aviation
New legislation introduced in Congress this month would direct the FAA to establish an education program informing pilots and FBOs about the compatibility, availability, and certification requirements for unleaded avgas alternatives.
The bill would also require the FAA to publicly disclose the status of all unleaded avgas variations currently undergoing authorization. The push comes as a new GAO report released April 30 found that the FAA has made progress on two congressionally mandated pilot pipeline initiatives from 2024, but has not publicly released timelines — making it difficult for flight schools, regional carriers, and training programs to plan around them.
✈️ Commercial Aviation
Spirit Airlines, which permanently ceased operations May 2, left more than 90 aircraft parked at airports across the country, with recovery crews now ferrying planes to storage facilities in Arizona and elsewhere.
More than 60 of those aircraft were leased, and creditors are racing to reposition them.
Leisure travelers flying out of Fort Lauderdale, Orlando, and Las Vegas are absorbing the steepest fare increases, as legacy carriers never built deep discount inventory in those markets.
📊 Aviation & Aerospace Stocks
(Friday, May 8 Close)
Ticker | Price | Daily Change |
|---|---|---|
JOBY | $10.52 | ▲ +8.59% |
ACHR | $6.48 | ▲ +2.86% |
GRMN | $242.42 | ▼ −3.47% |
BA | $238.36 | ▲ +2.9% |
LMT | $506.51 | ▼ −0.41% |
BA continues to benefit from positive sentiment following the 777-9 production flight milestone and CEO Kelly Ortberg's planned participation in the Trump trade delegation to China this week — a trip that could unlock significant commercial aircraft orders if diplomatic progress is made.
JOBY reported stronger-than-expected Q1 results with $24 million in revenue and $2.5 billion in cash on hand following a February capital raise, sending shares up 21% on earnings day.
ACHR reports Q1 results after the close today.
GRMN pulled back nearly 3.5% despite posting record Q1 revenue, as analysts offered mixed reactions to forward guidance.
⛽ Fuel Prices
National Averages — May 10, 2026
Fuel | National Avg |
|---|---|
100LL | $7.19 / gal |
Jet-A | $7.94 / gal |
SAF | $10.44 / gal |
Jet fuel prices in the U.S. remain elevated, with global balances structurally undersupplied as the Strait of Hormuz remains effectively closed to normal commercial flows following the Iran conflict that began in February. Most market participants do not expect meaningful price relief until Hormuz flows resume and global inventories can be rebuilt.
🧠 Did You Know?
The Boeing 777-9 features folding wingtips — making it the first commercial transport aircraft in history to have "wingtip controls" in the cockpit. The tips fold up roughly 11 feet on each side, allowing the aircraft's 235-foot wingspan — the longest ever on a commercial jet — to fit within standard airport gate widths designed for smaller aircraft. Without those folding tips, the 777-9 simply couldn't operate at most of the world's major airports.
If you found today's issue useful, consider passing it along to a fellow pilot, dispatcher, or aviation investor. Word of mouth is how this community grows — and the skies are better when more people are paying attention.
Flight Briefs is published for informational purposes only. Nothing contained herein constitutes financial, investment, or legal advice. Always conduct your own due diligence before making any investment decision.aaaaaaaaaa
-Flight Briefs