The airline industry is an example of how offering clear pricing tiers, starting with a cheap option that offers little or no perks, sets customer expectations and helps them decide whether to spend more, write Thomas A. Stewart and Patricia O'Connell. "By creating a class of service many passengers shun, basic economy appears to have made ordinary service seem less bad," they write.

President Donald Trump has signaled a $700 billion Defense Department budget request for 2020, $16 billion lower than the current budget cycle. Trump says all Cabinet members have been directed to reduce budgets by 5% for 2020.

Northrop Grumman will upgrade US Navy and ally Australia's EA-18G Growler and EA-6B Prowler electronic warfare aircraft under a $697 million contract.

The Navy is working to increase the mission readiness rate of its F/A-18E/F Super Hornets and F-18C Hornets. The F-18C Hornet fleet has a readiness rate of 44%.

While Boeing is not expected to make an official announcement regarding its new midsize airplane until next year, the market for the new aircraft seems to be building. "Airline views on this Boeing concept appeared increasingly positive to us, with the design parameters firming," analyst Douglas Harned of Sanford C. Bernstein said.

Gulfstream is anticipating a growth market in 2019 as it introduces its G500 and G600 business jets. "We're bringing two new airplanes to market at a time when the market is improving," President Mark Burns said.

El Al Airlines has tapped Boeing to provide maintenance services under a two-year agreement. Boeing also announced a contract supplement with Lufthansa for landing gear work on two 777-200Fs.

The Defense Department is stepping up efforts to woo college students with a technology background into government jobs. "We need the creative people who want to work on the complex and the mind-boggling," Dana Deasy, the Pentagon's chief information officer, said.

United Launch Alliance President and CEO Tory Bruno says the rise of launch companies is good for the US. "We're seeing a broadening of the lift industrial base," he said.

United Launch Alliance successfully launched an Air Force communications satellite into orbit aboard an Atlas 5 rocket early Wednesday. "It was a beautiful launch, a very clean launch," Brig. Gen. Douglas Schiess said.