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Maersk's first-quarter profits beat forecasts and outlook remains unchanged
Maersk, the shipping company, posted slightly higher operating profits in its first quarter than analysts had predicted on Thursday. It also kept its earnings guidance for the full year unchanged. The company's poll of 10 analysts revealed that the median estimate for EBITDA (earnings before interest, tax, depreciation and amortization) was $1.66 billion. Maersk is often viewed as an indicator of global trade and still projects a global container volume increase between 2% to 4% in this year. In a press release, Chief Executive Vincent Clerc stated that "we've seen strong demand in most regions in this quarter. This has supported robust volume growth across our three business segments." The Middle East conflict's impact on global supply chain is not captured in the first quarter, as the conflict began on February 28, when Israel and the United States launched coordinated attacks on Iran. After Iran closed down the Strait of Hormuz for commercial traffic, the war has disrupted the shipping routes in the region and increased costs like fuel. The security situation remains fragile. On Wednesday, the French shipping group CMA CGM reported that one of their container ships was struck while transiting through the Strait of Hormuz. This caused injuries to crew members and damage to the vessel. The Middle -East security situation also impacts shipping in Red Sea. Maersk is forced to reroute ships around Africa and away from the Suez Canal, Bab el Mandeb Strait, etc. Maersk has abruptly halted its tentative attempts to return some services to the Suez Route, which was seen as a crucial step in resolving years of global trade disruptions caused by Yemeni Houthi rebel attacks on ships at the Red Sea. (Reporting and editing by Terje Solsvik, Stine Jacobsen & Jesus Calero)
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SBM Offshore lifts 2026 revenue outlook as first quarter revenue triples
SBM Offshore, a Dutch floating production company, raised its revenue guidance for 2026 on Thursday after its first-quarter directional revenues more than tripled. This was primarily due to its turnkey business as well as the sale of One Guyana. In February, the company sold One Guyana to ExxonMobil for $2.3 billion. The company, listed in Amsterdam, said that year-to date directional revenues rose 216% from $1.10 billion a year ago to $3.49 billion. It also raised its outlook for full-year revenue -to over $6.9 billion. The company said that its 2026 EBITDA guidance was around $1.8 billion and the directional net debt had fallen by?43% at the end of March. SBM stated that the increase in revenue forecast was due to the Longtail FEED contract, an early stage engineering contract for a possible new FPSO vessel, in Guyana, as well as additional scope of work. The turnkey division's revenue grew 359%, to $2.88 billion. Lease and operate revenue grew 28%, to $610 millions. SBM, who joined AEX in March 2026 said that it 'ordered?two additional Fast4Ward hulls for tendering activities, citing a positive outlook for the 'floating production, storage, and offloading markets. In a recent press release, CEO Oivind Tangen stated that the company does not expect to see a "material impact" from the geopolitical tensions in the Middle East on its projects, operations or financial situation. The company employs directional reporting which records revenue from payments made during the construction phase before leasing begins. Hugo Lhomedet is reporting.
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HawkEye, a space analytics company, raises $416 Million in US IPO
HawkEye 360, a space?analytics company, raised $416 million in its U.S. IPO on Wednesday. In the IPO Herndon, a Virginia-based company, sold 16 million shares at $26 each, giving it a value of approximately $2.42 billion. The firm had set a target price of $24-$26 per share. HawkEye 360, Suja Life and other consumer brands are expected to 'test investor demand' for defense technology in the upcoming months. HawkEye also will gauge the appetite for space-technology offerings as investors wait to see if SpaceX files a public filing that could boost confidence amongst peers in pursuing listings and tapping equity markets. HawkEye, founded in 2015, provides data on signal intelligence to national security, defense and intelligence agencies. Satellites are used to detect, analyze and locate radio frequency emissions around the world. HawkEye has more than 30 satellites. The U.S. Government and its allies account for the bulk of their revenue. The?company acquired ISA in December, increasing its capabilities in classified intelligence systems and signal processing, while strengthening ties with U.S. agencies. HawkEye will begin trading on the New York Stock Exchange on Thursday under the symbol "HAWK", with Goldman Sachs Morgan Stanley RBC Capital Markets Jefferies among its underwriters.
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US reports China Eastern jet fuel supplies are off ahead of fatal 2022 crash
The U.S. National Transportation Safety Board published data this week indicating that the fuel supply was'switched off' to both engines of a China Eastern Airlines Boeing 737 before a 'the aircraft crashed into a hillside on southern China in March 2020, killing all 132 passengers. The NTSB announced on Wednesday that its investigation into China's worst air disaster in 30 years found no safety concerns. Fuel switches are physical controls that regulate fuel flow into the engines on Boeing 737 aircraft. A pilot must lift the switch before switching from run to stop. This is the first major update of investigation on this deadly crash. China's aviation regulator decided to forgo releasing an annual report on its investigation into the crash in March. The fourth anniversary passed without any explanation of what caused the accident. The NTSB released the data in response to a Freedom of Information Request. It came from the flight data recorder of the plane. The data showed that both fuel switches were moved from the run to the cutoff position simultaneously before the jet went down. In 2022, it was reported that the investigators had focused their attention on the actions taken by the flight crew. They had not found any technical malfunctions. The fuel switches of both engines were moved from their run to cutoff positions while the aircraft was cruising at 29000 feet. The NTSB reported that the engine speeds dropped after the fuel switches were moved. The Boeing 737-800 crash, which was operated as China Eastern Flight MU5735 in China, was the deadliest air disaster China has seen in decades. Deliberate crashes occur very rarely. In March 2015, the co-pilot of Germanwings deliberately crashed an Airbus A320 in a French mountainside killing all 150 people on board. The actions of the captain involved in the crash of an Air India Boeing 787-8 in Ahmedabad in June that resulted in the death of 260 people has been scrutinized. A preliminary report from the Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau revealed that the fuel-engine switches of the plane had been switched almost simultaneously, from run to shutoff, just after takeoff. A source who was briefed in July on the early assessment by U.S. officials of the evidence said that the cockpit recording of the dialogue between the two pilots confirmed the view that Captain Sabharwal cut off the fuel flow to the engines. The Chinese regulators 'have not released a complete report detailing their findings in the investigation of the crash, and have provided 'no updates of the probe since more than two year. A spokesperson for the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of China declined to respond to a question posed about U.S. findings during a press conference on Wednesday. One of two black boxes found in the wreckage is the flight data recorder. The NTSB lab in Washington was contacted to analyze the flight data recorder because Boeing is a US aircraft manufacturer. Reporting by Casey Hall, David Shepardson and David Gregorio; editing by Raju Gopikrishnan & David Gregorio
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Air Force One to be deployed as soon as possible on the Fourth of July, according to US plans
A U.S. Air Force official and someone familiar with the program have confirmed that the U.S. Air Force plans to deliver a Boeing 747, which Qatar has donated to the U.S. Air Force. The aircraft will 'join Air Force One in time for the 250th anniversary of the United States. The White House received the luxury jet in 2025, and requested that the Air Force upgrade it quickly to presidential standards. L3Harris was chosen to perform the overhaul. If the company is able to meet its deadline, Donald Trump could have a brand new presidential jet in time for national celebrations. A person claimed that there was a possible effort to?deliver a jet three weeks sooner to coincide with Trump's June 14 birthday, ahead of the deadline on July 4. Democrats and proponents of good governance have criticized the Qatari gift, warning that it could be a conflict of interests which would influence presidential decisions. Trump dismissed criticisms of accepting a?13-year old airplane at a $400-million list price. He said it would be "stupid to reject the offer." Air Force One's current fleet consists of two modified 747 200B aircraft. Air Force One is the name given to any?Air Force aircraft that carries the U.S. President. Experts have stated that retrofitting the luxury aircraft offered by Qatar's royal family will require security upgrades, improved communications to prevent spies from listening in, and the ability of fending off incoming missiles. A spokesperson for the Air Force said that "the aircraft is on track to be delivered this summer." Air Force spokesperson said that the aircraft is being painted after completing modifications and flight tests. OFFICIAL JETS DELAYED The official replacement program for Air Force One -- Boeing's attempt to convert two 747-8 planes into next-generation president jets -- has been four years behind schedule. Delivery is not expected until the middle of 2028. This could leave Trump without his new, coveted planes by the time his term in office ends in January 2029. Boeing has a contract for $3.9 billion that was fixed in 2018. However, costs have since ballooned and the company is now claiming $2.4 billion against earnings. Boeing hired Steve Sullivan in 2025, a former Northrop 'Grumman executive, who worked on the?B-21 bomber program. This was done to stabilize the ship. Air Force's executive airlift fleet recently received a new color scheme of red, white and dark blue, a palette Trump has long advocated. A previous version of the design was scrapped by 2022. The new?livery, which replaces the two-tone white and blue scheme in place since Kennedy's time, will be applied to VC-25B – the military designation of the Boeing 747-8. The vice president, cabinet members, and other senior officials use four?Boeing 747-8-200s. They will be repainted. The Air Force bought two ex-Lufthansa 747-8i planes for $400 million in?December. One will be used as a trainer for aircrews and maintainers and the other for spare parts.
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AirAsia has ordered 150 Airbus A220 jets for $19 billion.
AirAsia, a Malaysian budget carrier, has ordered 150 A220-300 jets designed in Canada from Airbus. This is the largest single-firm order for the jetliner ever. The companies announced this at an event held in Quebec on Tuesday. Airbus' commercial aviation CEO Lars Wagner stated that AirAsia was the "launch customer", of the new 160-seat configuration. AirAsia's CEO Tony Fernandes stated that his airline would "buy" 150 more aircraft if Airbus made a stretched version the A220 jet. The announcement confirms previous reports about a deal to purchase 150 A220-300?jets. Fernandes stated that the order is worth $19 billion. This is a good deal for the Airbus A220. Its rival Embraer E2 won a campaign with Finnair last March and outsold it three to one in 2013. Airbus wants to increase A220 production in order to break even with the program that it took from Canadian planemaker Bombardier for free last year. The province of Quebec has a minor stake in the A220 Program, which is produced in a facility in Mirabel, just north of Montreal. A separate assembly line is also located in Mobile, Alabama. Mirabel is where A220 planes are manufactured for non-US customers. In January, it was reported that Airbus would begin offering airlines and leasing companies a larger version 110-130 seat A220 jetliner in preparation for launching the development of this aircraft later this year. The kickoff is intended to?gather enough pre-orders for the A220-500, which has a seating capacity of 180. Reporting by Alison Lampert, Ryan Patrick Jones and Caroline Stauffer.
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US FAA chief to answer questions from legislators after agency cited for fatal air crash
The head of the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) will be questioned on Capitol Hill, on May 19, after a report revealed that'systemic failures within the agency led to the devastating mid-air collision last year which killed 67 people. The collision of an American Airlines regional plane and a Black Hawk Army helicopter in January 2025 near Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport, was the most deadly aviation accident to occur in the United States for more than two decades. FAA Administrator Bryan Bedford is scheduled to appear before a Senate Aviation Subcommittee on Wednesday, April 17, to answer questions regarding the agency's response to a number of recommendations from the National Transportation Safety Board. Hearing comes at a time when the House and Senate are passing competing bills to address air safety. The close calls have shown that our aviation system is fragile. We cannot afford to delay the implementation of safety standards. The FAA has not yet commented. The NTSB found that the FAA allowed helicopters to fly close to the airport without any safeguards to keep them separate from planes, and failed to act on data or recommendations to move helicopter traffic from the airport. Jennifer Homendy, Chair of the NTSB, has rebuked FAA for its failure to communicate and address safety and culture issues at the 26th busiest airport in the United States, which is also home to the busiest runway in the country and is frequently used by members of Congress. The?NTSB gave more than 30 recommendations for the FAA. They cited a number of failures that occurred before the Washington crash. There have been 85 close calls between commercial aircraft and helicopters near Reagan Airport since 2021. The NTSB found that the FAA handled traffic differently at Reagan, and it was not able to accept a suggestion to include hot spots on a chart of helicopter routes. Homendy stated that the FAA did not also review helicopter routes as required annually and had routes which were not designed to provide proper separation.
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NextDecade sees Middle East conflict boosting long-term LNG ship charters
Peter Fitzpatrick, NextDecade Shipping Vice President and speaker at an event held in Houston on Wednesday, said that the ongoing conflict in the Middle East will cause more companies to hire LNG ships on long-term contracts as opposed to the spot market. Fitzpatrick stated that the LNG industry was comfortable hiring ships on the spot markets when there were oversupplies of the fuel. Very few "long-term" deals were made in 2024 or 2025. Fitzpatrick said that the market is adapting to increased volatility, as it is becoming aware of its existence. "The geopolitical crises will have a long-term effect on shipping, as we'll see more long-term contracts where you can manage your own risks and not just rely on the spot markets," said Fitzpatrick at the Global LNG Forum hosted by Lloyd's Register. The difficulty in determining when the equipment would be available will hinder the ability of U.S. developers to make investment decisions. Fitzpatrick said on the'sidelines of the conference that it was difficult to obtain gas turbines because of the number of data centers and LNG expansion being built. He added that European resistance to long term purchases is also making FID difficult for some U.S. developers. Patrice 'Brossard, general manager of Gaztransport & Technigaz North America, said that the industry was on track to build up to 100 carriers a year. The new ships can carry up to 15% more cargo than the current tankers. The United States is already the largest LNG exporter in the world. Its capacity to export LNG will double by 2030. NextDecade will build a 30,000,000 metric ton export facility in Brownsville. Curtis Williams, Houston Reporter; Nathan Crooks and Kirsty Donovan, Editors
Official: China could try to'manoeuver' the Taiwan issue during Trump's meeting.
China could try to "manoeuver" the Taiwan issue if?U.S. A top Taiwanese Intelligence official told?Taiwanese media on Thursday that President Donald Trump will visit Beijing next week. The U.S. policy towards the island has not changed.
China regularly refers to Taiwan, a democratically-governed territory, as its own territory. It also describes this issue as being the most important and sensitive in its relationship with Washington. Taiwan's government rejects Beijing claims of sovereignty.
Taipei is watching for signs that Trump, who has unnerved allies with his transactional approach, might soften or reframe the longstanding U.S. Taiwan policy in exchange for China purchasing American aircraft and agricultural products, or easing economic pressures.
Tsai Ming yen, Director-general of the National Security Bureau, told reporters in Taipei that Trump's meeting with Chinese President Xi Jinping would likely focus on a management approach to their issues, and not fundamental problem solving.
Tsai stated that the Chinese communists might try to play a few tricks during the discussions.
"However, in this regard, the United States have continuously reaffirmed, through public and private channels, that their Taiwan policy hasn't changed."
?Secretary?of State Marco Rubio stated this week that Taiwan will likely be a subject of discussion between Trump and Xi. However, both countries are aware it is not in their interests for any "destabilising" events to occur regarding Taiwan.
Tsai stated that there are many issues between China and the U.S. which are difficult to resolve fundamentally in the short-term.
He added, "Our assessment of the U.S. China situation as a whole is that there will be a fragile stability."
The?U.S. Taiwan's?most important?international ally and is bound to law to provide Taiwan with the means to protect itself, despite the lack of formal diplomatic relations. (Reporting and editing by Thomas Derpinghaus; Ben Blanchard)
(source: Reuters)