https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/rss/325335/feed Latest news, in-depth features and opinion on aviation, with a particular focus on the industry in Hong Kong, mainland China and Asia. en https://assets-v2.i-scmp.com/production/static/img/icons/scmp-meta-1200x630.png https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg Iman Muttaqin Yusof Iman Muttaqin Yusof Malaysia received its first South Korean-made light combat jet on Friday under a nearly 4 billion ringgit (US$990 million) procurement, in what analysts describe as welcome relief for an ageing air force still years away from replacing its frontline fighters. The FA-50M Block 20 jet arrived at the air force base in Labuan, off Borneo, with a second expected in Kuantan on the peninsula’s east coast next Monday. They are the first of 18 aircraft ordered from Korea Aerospace Industries under a deal... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/week-asia/economics/article/3372710/saviour-or-stop-gap-malaysias-south-korean-jets-arrive-relieve-ageing-fighters https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/week-asia/economics/article/3372710/saviour-or-stop-gap-malaysias-south-korean-jets-arrive-relieve-ageing-fighters Fri, 30 Oct 2026 07:57:20 +0000 Ralph Jennings Ralph Jennings Airlines will cut nearly 700,000 seats from their China-Japan flights and axe more than 5,000 flights for the coming winter travel season as a nearly year-old political squabble continues to depress tourism, according to aviation data provider OAG. During the commercial aviation industry’s winter season, which runs from October 25 to March 27, carriers allocated a combined 2,871,270 seats, compared with 3,554,167 in the same season last year, OAG data showed. The same airlines allocated... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/economy/article/3372534/china-japan-flights-drop-nearly-700000-seats-amid-political-spat https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/economy/article/3372534/china-japan-flights-drop-nearly-700000-seats-amid-political-spat Thu, 29 Oct 2026 05:14:36 +0000 Wynna Wong Wynna Wong Immigration rules are discouraging a growing number of air travellers from visiting certain destinations, a global aviation survey has found, while geopolitical tensions are also influencing travel decisions, particularly in the Asia-Pacific region. The International Air Transport Association (IATA), an airline industry body, said its annual Global Passenger Survey found that 43 per cent of respondents had been put off from visiting certain destinations by immigration requirements, up from 33... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/hong-kong/transport/article/3372486/immigration-rules-deter-nearly-half-asia-pacific-air-travellers-survey-finds https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/hong-kong/transport/article/3372486/immigration-rules-deter-nearly-half-asia-pacific-air-travellers-survey-finds Thu, 29 Oct 2026 00:30:06 +0000 Wynna Wong Wynna Wong Hong Kong International Airport has become one of the first two organisations certified under an international aviation industry group’s digital identity programme, as it seeks to expand its facial recognition system beyond the city. However, the wider adoption of facial recognition technology has been slower than expected, due to government regulations and privacy requirements, according to a senior aviation industry official. The International Air Transport Association (IATA) announced on... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/hong-kong/transport/article/3372476/hong-kong-worlds-first-airport-receive-digital-identity-certification-iata https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/hong-kong/transport/article/3372476/hong-kong-worlds-first-airport-receive-digital-identity-certification-iata Wed, 28 Oct 2026 14:00:30 +0000 Jeoffrey Maitem Jeoffrey Maitem The collision of two Philippine Air Force training aircraft that killed four pilots has raised questions about whether the service’s training, maintenance and safety systems can keep pace with Manila’s ambitions to acquire more advanced combat aircraft. The crash, which occurred during a fly-by rehearsal at Fernando Air Base in Lipa City, Batangas province, south of Manila, on Friday has renewed calls for a comprehensive review of the Air Force’s ageing fleet, pilot instruction, maintenance... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/week-asia/politics/article/3372299/air-force-crash-revives-debate-philippine-militarys-modernisation-limits https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/week-asia/politics/article/3372299/air-force-crash-revives-debate-philippine-militarys-modernisation-limits Tue, 27 Oct 2026 09:45:50 +0000 dpa dpa Sydney’s new multibillion-dollar airport has already confused some travellers, with passengers mistaking the new facility for the Australian city’s existing airport and even booking flights to the wrong side of the country. Western Sydney International Airport, which opened at the weekend after decades of planning, is about 60km (37 miles) from the city centre, compared with just 8km for the existing Kingsford Smith Airport. The new airport operates around the clock, while most passenger flights... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/asia/australasia/article/3372145/australia-sydneys-second-airport-blows-some-passengers-course https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/asia/australasia/article/3372145/australia-sydneys-second-airport-blows-some-passengers-course Mon, 26 Oct 2026 07:40:16 +0000 Associated Press Associated Press Two Philippine air force planes collided during a training flight and crashed at an airbase south of Manila, killing all four pilots on board, Philippine officials said on Saturday. The two SF-260 aircraft collided while flying at a low altitude on Friday afternoon then crashed at Fernando Air Base in Lipa city in the coastal province of Batangas south of the capital. There were no injuries on the ground, the officials said. The air force did not provide details of what it called an accidental... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/asia/southeast-asia/article/3372014/4-pilots-killed-mid-air-collision-philippine-military-planes https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/asia/southeast-asia/article/3372014/4-pilots-killed-mid-air-collision-philippine-military-planes Sat, 24 Oct 2026 07:42:50 +0000 Gabriel Dominguez Gabriel Dominguez From the cockpit of an F-22 fighter to an aircraft carrier sailing in the Pacific, the US military is showing new ways to command uncrewed aircraft over vast distances. The United States disclosed two tests this month as Washington seeks to outpace Beijing in a technology contest that could redefine air and naval power in the region. Illustrating US military advances and their potential significance for a Taiwan conflict, an F-22 pilot controlled an autonomous YFQ-44A combat drone during flight,... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/china/military/article/3371799/could-us-advances-drone-command-give-it-edge-over-pla-taiwan-conflict https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/china/military/article/3371799/could-us-advances-drone-command-give-it-edge-over-pla-taiwan-conflict Thu, 22 Oct 2026 11:00:16 +0000 Wynna Wong Wynna Wong Airlines in Hong Kong have cancelled or rescheduled more than a dozen flights to and from Taiwan and Japan due to Super Typhoon Champi, with further disruption expected in the coming days. Announcements of flight cancellations from Taiwanese airlines also followed, noting flights between Hong Kong and Taipei or Kaohsiung for Friday and Saturday had been cancelled. Budget carrier HK Express announced it would cancel 10 flights between Hong Kong and Taiwan on Friday, with six serving Taipei and... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/hong-kong/transport/article/3371776/super-typhoon-champi-hong-kong-airlines-cancel-least-12-taiwan-japan-flights https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/hong-kong/transport/article/3371776/super-typhoon-champi-hong-kong-airlines-cancel-least-12-taiwan-japan-flights Thu, 22 Oct 2026 08:42:48 +0000 Tang Meng Kit Tang Meng Kit Last month, the US published the fine print of a US$686 million upgrade deal for Pakistan’s F-16 fighter jets. The deal is for data link systems, new encryption gear and a refit that keeps the jets flying until 2040. The notice says Pakistan can protect the technology to “substantially the same degree” as the US government. The Pakistan Air Force is also the only declared interested buyer of China’s J-35 stealth fighter, a generational leap in technology. The Chinese jet first flew at the Zhuhai... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/opinion/asia-opinion/article/3371561/pakistan-and-us-factor-china-looks-sell-its-j-35-stealth-jets https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/opinion/asia-opinion/article/3371561/pakistan-and-us-factor-china-looks-sell-its-j-35-stealth-jets Wed, 21 Oct 2026 21:30:06 +0000 Gabriel Dominguez Gabriel Dominguez China’s military has published what appears to be the first official photograph of a Y-20B heavy transport aircraft in PLA Air Force livery fitted with aerial refuelling pods, suggesting that the multi-role tanker-transport (MRTT) configuration has entered service. An image published by the PLA Daily newspaper on October 14 shows the four-engine aircraft painted in standard military grey, with refuelling pods beneath its wings and its rear cargo ramp open as a truck carrying equipment is behind... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/china/military/article/3371487/chinese-air-force-reveals-y-20b-tanker-transport-variant-official-training-image https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/china/military/article/3371487/chinese-air-force-reveals-y-20b-tanker-transport-variant-official-training-image Tue, 20 Oct 2026 10:00:11 +0000 Igor Patrick Igor Patrick Dozens of Air China passengers stranded in Cuba by successive cancellations were due to fly out on an extra flight on Monday, as a US oil embargo deepens the island’s energy crisis. The disruption has hit one of Cuba’s last direct air links to Europe, the Chinese carrier’s twice-weekly route between Beijing and Havana via Madrid. Air China added flight CA590 for travellers whose regular CA866 service was cancelled before October 10, the Chinese embassy said in a notice on Sunday. The flight was... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/china/article/3371426/chinas-flag-carrier-scrambles-fly-stranded-passengers-out-fuel-starved-cuba https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/china/article/3371426/chinas-flag-carrier-scrambles-fly-stranded-passengers-out-fuel-starved-cuba Mon, 19 Oct 2026 19:44:08 +0000 Bloomberg Bloomberg After more than half a century of political procrastination, environmental protests and funding shortfalls, Sydney finally has a second airport. But the new A$5.6 billion (US$4 billion) site’s commercial prospects are already in question. Western Sydney International, 50km (31 miles) inland from the city centre, will handle its first passenger flight on Sunday – a Jetstar service to the Gold Coast. But the facility has attracted only a handful of airlines and has half a dozen or fewer scheduled... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/asia/australasia/article/3371346/sydney-opens-us4-billion-second-airport-few-flights https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/asia/australasia/article/3371346/sydney-opens-us4-billion-second-airport-few-flights Mon, 19 Oct 2026 04:27:34 +0000 Reuters Reuters A bomb threat forced an Austrian Airlines flight from Tel Aviv to Vienna to divert to Sofia late on Sunday, but searches found no danger and the aircraft was cleared to resume its journey overnight, the airline and Bulgaria’s BTA news agency said. BTA reported that the crew declared an emergency as the aircraft approached the Romanian border, prompting the Bulgarian Air Force to scramble MiG-29 fighter jets. Israeli newspaper Haaretz reported that the threat was called in by an Austrian national... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/world/middle-east/article/3371337/bomb-threat-forces-austrian-airlines-flight-tel-aviv-divert-bulgaria https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/world/middle-east/article/3371337/bomb-threat-forces-austrian-airlines-flight-tel-aviv-divert-bulgaria Mon, 19 Oct 2026 02:12:37 +0000 Biman Mukherji Biman Mukherji India has a soaring ambition to modernise its air force, built around a fleet of domestically developed fighter jets. Yet production of these aircraft has been hampered by engine delays and other bottlenecks that defence analysts say could limit its ability to fight future air wars. On October 11 at an airbase in Jodhpur, Air Chief Marshal A.P. Singh strapped into a Tejas jet for the last time. It was his final fighter sortie before retiring later this month and he flew it in an Indian-built jet... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/week-asia/politics/article/3371177/india-needs-more-fighter-jets-it-cannot-build-them-fast-enough https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/week-asia/politics/article/3371177/india-needs-more-fighter-jets-it-cannot-build-them-fast-enough Mon, 19 Oct 2026 00:00:10 +0000 Tom King Tom King Asia-based airlines are battling stubbornly high fuel costs even as pressure mounts to accelerate their transition to more expensive sustainable aviation fuel (SAF). Singapore Airlines Group reported a 78.5 per cent surge in net fuel costs in the quarter to June, contributing to a S$76 million (US$59.3 million) net loss despite record revenue. Cathay Pacific has repeatedly adjusted passenger fuel surcharges as jet fuel prices fluctuated, while India’s low-cost carrier IndiGo introduced another... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/opinion/asia-opinion/article/3370973/economic-realities-threaten-asias-green-aviation-ambitions https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/opinion/asia-opinion/article/3370973/economic-realities-threaten-asias-green-aviation-ambitions Sun, 18 Oct 2026 08:30:05 +0000 Ralph Jennings Ralph Jennings China’s chief civilian aircraft builder will command 5 per cent of the world’s fleet allocation by 2045 as global demand for narrowbody jets and the domestic order book look strong, an aviation analytics firm has forecast. Airbus would have 47 per cent of the passenger fleet allocation and Boeing 39 per cent, both leading state-owned Commercial Aircraft Corporation of China (Comac), analytics firm Cirium forecast on Tuesday. It said Embraer would take 3 per cent and ATR 2 per cent. Comac has a... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/economy/china-economy/article/3370841/c919-set-lead-way-chinese-aircraft-forecast-secure-5-world-market-20-years https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/economy/china-economy/article/3370841/c919-set-lead-way-chinese-aircraft-forecast-secure-5-world-market-20-years Wed, 14 Oct 2026 06:52:28 +0000 Sherry Wang Sherry Wang China is seeking public comments on draft rules that would streamline procedures for “low-risk” exports of aviation components such as engines and inertial navigation systems to give the industry a competitive boost. Such avionics currently are classified by Chinese authorities as “dual-use” items, which can serve both civilian and military purposes, and are subject to strict export licensing requirements. If implemented, “this will reduce compliance costs for an industry with extensive... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/economy/policy/article/3370685/china-proposes-streamlined-export-rules-low-risk-avionics-boost-industry https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/economy/policy/article/3370685/china-proposes-streamlined-export-rules-low-risk-avionics-boost-industry Tue, 13 Oct 2026 06:00:13 +0000 Associated Press Associated Press Actress Selma Blair was arrested after she was accused of injuring two flight attendants on a trip from Los Angeles to New York. She was also accused of kicking a police officer taking her to the hospital and kicking a nurse once she got there. She pleaded not guilty Monday night to two counts of assault for state charges involving the officer and the nurse. And she faces separate federal charges based on what happened on the flight, which her representatives say was brought on by a severe... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/world/united-states-canada/article/3370648/actress-selma-blair-taken-custody-police-responding-abusive-plane-passenger https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/world/united-states-canada/article/3370648/actress-selma-blair-taken-custody-police-responding-abusive-plane-passenger Mon, 12 Oct 2026 19:55:53 +0000 Lawrence Chung Lawrence Chung Taiwan’s defence ministry plans to allow military pilots to serve until the age of 58 as it grapples with the prospect of “having fighter jets but no pilots”. The proposed retention scheme comes as the island’s air force prepares to form operational squadrons around 66 new F-16V Block 70 fighters ordered from the United States, adding pressure to an already stretched pool of experienced pilots. Under the plan, pilots could serve until they turn 58 – up from about 48 for lieutenant colonels and... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/china/military/article/3370611/taiwan-aims-raise-pilot-retirement-age-58-new-f-16v-jets-arrive https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/china/military/article/3370611/taiwan-aims-raise-pilot-retirement-age-58-new-f-16v-jets-arrive Mon, 12 Oct 2026 10:23:46 +0000 Agence France-Presse Agence France-Presse A Melbourne man whose Islamic community centre has been linked by prosecutors in the United Arab Emirates to the co-pilot who allegedly attacked the captain of a Flydubai jet has hit out at “false accusations”. The Omani co-pilot, now in custody in the UAE, had drawn inspiration from al-Qaeda’s September 11, 2001 suicide attacks, and carried out his attempt “with the aim of causing the greatest possible loss of life”, according to the Emirati prosecutor’s findings published by state media last... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/asia/australasia/article/3370552/australian-man-rejects-uae-links-flydubai-cockpit-attack https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/asia/australasia/article/3370552/australian-man-rejects-uae-links-flydubai-cockpit-attack Mon, 12 Oct 2026 06:08:29 +0000 Reuters Reuters AirAsia co-founder Tony Fernandes met with officials from Malaysia’s finance ministry two weeks ago to discuss potential government support for Southeast Asia’s largest low-cost airline, according to three people with knowledge of the matter. The talks reflect growing government concerns about the financial health of the country’s largest domestic carrier following a spike in jet fuel prices, the people said. Discussions centred on the prospect of the government backing AirAsia’s fundraising... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/asia/southeast-asia/article/3370529/airasia-founder-denies-state-bailout-talks-despite-insiders-claims https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/asia/southeast-asia/article/3370529/airasia-founder-denies-state-bailout-talks-despite-insiders-claims Mon, 12 Oct 2026 03:24:07 +0000 Agence France-Presse Agence France-Presse A fresh Houthi strike hit Riyadh’s international airport on Sunday, killing one person and wounding 11 others, a day after another deadly attack claimed by the Yemeni group forced authorities to suspend operations there. Saturday’s attack, the deadliest on Saudi soil in more than a decade, was a sharp escalation in the Yemen war, where Riyadh has long militarily supported the internationally recognised government against the Houthis. The Iran-backed group on Sunday claimed multiple attacks over... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/world/middle-east/article/3370513/riyadh-airport-hit-fresh-houthi-strike-day-after-deadly-attack-killed-12 https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/world/middle-east/article/3370513/riyadh-airport-hit-fresh-houthi-strike-day-after-deadly-attack-killed-12 Sun, 11 Oct 2026 17:52:46 +0000 Reuters Reuters At least 12 people were killed and more than 300 wounded in an attack on Riyadh’s international airport on Saturday, the deadliest in the kingdom in more than a decade, as the Iran-backed Houthis escalate a campaign they launched this summer. The dead from the third attack this week on the airport included four Saudis, two people from Bangladesh and one person each from the US, Jordan, Palestine, Syria, Sudan and Egypt, ‌the Saudi civil aviation authority said. At the latest count, 309 were... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/world/middle-east/article/3370454/loud-blast-heard-riyadh-airport-airlines-cancel-more-flights https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/world/middle-east/article/3370454/loud-blast-heard-riyadh-airport-airlines-cancel-more-flights Sat, 10 Oct 2026 14:19:25 +0000 Reuters Reuters An Omani Flydubai co-pilot had intended to seize a Dubai-Tel Aviv flight and crash it into a terminal at Israel’s Ben Gurion Airport on September 30 in a suicide attack before he ‌was thwarted by the captain, the UAE attorney general said on Friday. Attorney General Hamad Saif al Shamsi’s statement did not appear to implicate Flydubai in any wrongdoing and contained the most detailed account yet from prosecutors about what they believe to have happened. Flydubai was not immediately available for... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/world/middle-east/article/3370407/omani-flydubai-co-pilot-planned-crash-plane-israeli-airport-uae-says https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/world/middle-east/article/3370407/omani-flydubai-co-pilot-planned-crash-plane-israeli-airport-uae-says Fri, 09 Oct 2026 17:01:59 +0000 dpa dpa The United Kingdom is “open” to Germany joining an international coalition to build the next generation of fighter jets, British Prime Minister Andy Burnham has announced. Speaking in Berlin on Thursday, during his first visit to the German capital since taking office, Burnham said he “indicated” to Chancellor Friedrich Merz Britain’s “openness” to the country joining the Global Combat Air Programme (GCAP). Initially a pact between the UK, Italy and Japan to build a sixth-generation fighter jet,... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/world/europe/article/3370225/uk-signals-openness-germany-joining-gcap-fighter-jet-programme https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/world/europe/article/3370225/uk-signals-openness-germany-joining-gcap-fighter-jet-programme Thu, 08 Oct 2026 14:40:11 +0000 Sylvia Ma,Ralph Jennings Sylvia Ma,Ralph Jennings China’s National Day holiday saw travel remain broadly stable as the break – an extended length of time compared with 2025 – supported longer-distance trips, though cinema cooled sharply, offering mixed signals on efforts to revive consumer spending. Over the seven-day break, which ended on Wednesday, China recorded 2.142 billion cross-regional passenger trips, averaging 306 million a day, up 0.7 per cent year on year, according to the Ministry of Transport, as reported by state broadcaster CCTV... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/economy/china-economy/article/3370156/chinas-national-day-holiday-sees-uptick-longer-trips-overseas-travel https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/economy/china-economy/article/3370156/chinas-national-day-holiday-sees-uptick-longer-trips-overseas-travel Thu, 08 Oct 2026 07:01:14 +0000 Aldo Giovannitti Aldo Giovannitti For decades, the Gulf superhubs of Dubai, Doha and Abu Dhabi performed an improbable trick. They redirected millions of people travelling between the West and Asia to connect through their airports. Last year, the three airports handled about 182 million passengers, three times the traffic at Hong Kong airport. Dubai alone handled 95.2 million, the highest ever recorded by an airport. The Gulf’s hub-and-spoke model – funnelling passengers through a central airport to multiple destinations –... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/opinion/world-opinion/article/3369927/can-gulf-aviation-superhub-model-survive-war https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/opinion/world-opinion/article/3369927/can-gulf-aviation-superhub-model-survive-war Wed, 07 Oct 2026 21:30:05 +0000 The Star The Star She spent some of her teenage years helping her mother at a sundry shop in Malaysia after school, and throughout that period kept a dream of achieving something higher alive. Now, 36-year-old Suriati Sukardi is a pilot, flying AirAsia’s commercial A320 and A321 Airbus aircraft. Before that, she had landed a job as the airline’s flight attendant and served the company for eight years since 2017 while continuing to eye and seek an opportunity to climb further in her career. In 2019, her prayers... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/asia/southeast-asia/article/3369894/cabin-crew-cockpit-malaysian-womans-airasia-pilot-dreams-take https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/asia/southeast-asia/article/3369894/cabin-crew-cockpit-malaysian-womans-airasia-pilot-dreams-take Tue, 06 Oct 2026 07:30:06 +0000 Danny Mok Danny Mok A 74-year-old retired Hong Kong police officer lost control of his paraglider in strong air currents and suffered multiple injuries after crashing on Lantau Island, a probe into the fatal 2024 accident has found. A report published by the Air Accident Investigation Authority on Monday detailed the incident involving the pilot at Sunset Peak, Hong Kong’s third-highest mountain, on June 17, 2024. The authority urged paragliding groups to stress the importance of thorough risk assessments before... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/hong-kong/society/article/3369815/man-74-lost-control-paraglider-strong-winds-probe-fatal-crash-finds https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/hong-kong/society/article/3369815/man-74-lost-control-paraglider-strong-winds-probe-fatal-crash-finds Mon, 05 Oct 2026 12:08:28 +0000 Associated Press Associated Press US Authorities on Sunday suspended the search off the Massachusetts coast for six people on an air ambulance that disappeared during a flight from Bermuda to Boston. The US Coast Guard said authorities searched more than 7,081km (4,400 miles) over a span of 66 hours for the four Canadians and two people from Bermuda who were on board. “Suspending a search is not an easy decision,” Rear Admiral Matthew Lake, commander of the Coast Guard’s northeast district, said in a statement. “We express our... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/world/united-states-canada/article/3369735/search-continues-missing-bermuda-boston-flight-crews-plan-comb-seabed https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/world/united-states-canada/article/3369735/search-continues-missing-bermuda-boston-flight-crews-plan-comb-seabed Sun, 04 Oct 2026 22:56:01 +0000 Agence France-Presse Agence France-Presse Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu ordered a security review of international flights to Israel on Sunday, after an attempt by an Omani co-pilot to crash an Israel-bound plane from Dubai. Netanyahu “has instructed the head of the National Security Council, Shmuel Ben Ezra, to appoint an examiner to conduct a thorough review of all security aspects of foreign civil aviation to Israel”, a statement from the premier’s office said. Calls have mounted in Israel for an investigation into the... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/world/middle-east/article/3369732/netanyahu-orders-security-review-international-flights-israel-after-flydubai-attack https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/world/middle-east/article/3369732/netanyahu-orders-security-review-international-flights-israel-after-flydubai-attack Sun, 04 Oct 2026 20:09:25 +0000 Ralph Jennings Ralph Jennings A range of public and private-sector Chinese buyers have acquired a total of 44 small-model Bell helicopters, often for sightseeing and corporate travel. This makes China the vendor’s second biggest market in the Asia-Pacific, with growing demand for more despite safety concerns surrounding rotary-wing aircraft, an aviation services firm said. China lagged behind only South Korea in the total number of five-seat Bell 505 Jet Ranger X helicopters, according to a statement by the Hong Kong-based... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/economy/china-economy/article/3369016/chinas-police-sightseeing-operators-snap-bell-helicopters-despite-safety-concerns https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/economy/china-economy/article/3369016/chinas-police-sightseeing-operators-snap-bell-helicopters-despite-safety-concerns Sun, 04 Oct 2026 13:00:11 +0000 Ralph Jennings Ralph Jennings Business-class flights, once largely the domain of company reps on paid trips, are becoming more popular among tourists in China who do not mind spending a bit extra for a comfortable ride from start to finish, industry insiders said. Businesspeople once occupied 90 per cent of the spacious seats, but have lost that edge to leisure travellers who can buy their way out of economy class but not into first class, said Wong Hong, director general of the 18-member Association of Asia Pacific... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/economy/china-economy/article/3367287/no-brainer-growing-trend-chinese-tourists-seeking-luxury-business-class-flights https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/economy/china-economy/article/3367287/no-brainer-growing-trend-chinese-tourists-seeking-luxury-business-class-flights Sat, 03 Oct 2026 13:00:11 +0000 Ralph Jennings Ralph Jennings A reported move by the United States to restrict exports of aircraft parts to China would place another speed bump on production of the C919 – a Chinese passenger jet designed to compete with Airbus and Boeing – as alternative sources of critical components for the plane are not readily available, according to analysts. The US Commerce Department has slowed export licensing for civilian aeroplane parts to China in recent weeks to strengthen Washington’s position in trade talks with Beijing,... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/economy/china-economy/article/3369588/chinas-c919-jet-faces-further-delivery-delays-amid-us-export-chill-analysts https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/economy/china-economy/article/3369588/chinas-c919-jet-faces-further-delivery-delays-amid-us-export-chill-analysts Fri, 02 Oct 2026 13:00:09 +0000 Associated Press Associated Press The Indian airline captain who helped thwart an apparent attempt to crash a Flydubai flight described on Friday how he fought for his life in the minutes after his co-pilot stabbed him and the plane began a steep descent. Captain Smit Machchhar, recovering in an Abu Dhabi hospital, told Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi in a televised video call that he knew he had to get back on his feet to save his passengers. “I had so many wounds. I had fallen down,” he said from the hospital, his head... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/world/middle-east/article/3369612/indian-pilot-hailed-hero-recalls-flydubai-cockpit-attack https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/world/middle-east/article/3369612/indian-pilot-hailed-hero-recalls-flydubai-cockpit-attack Fri, 02 Oct 2026 12:14:13 +0000 Associated Press Associated Press Investigators worked on Thursday to determine why an Omani pilot stabbed the captain of a flight to Israel, causing the plane to plummet dangerously before others on board landed it in Saudi Arabia. Passengers on the Flydubai plane – which was carrying 174 people, mostly Israelis, from the United Arab Emirates to Tel Aviv – have described how the bloodied Indian captain managed to open the cockpit door to let them in before they grappled with the co-pilot and stabilised a descent so sharp that... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/world/middle-east/article/3369475/investigators-probe-why-co-pilot-stabbed-captain-flydubai-flight-israel https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/world/middle-east/article/3369475/investigators-probe-why-co-pilot-stabbed-captain-flydubai-flight-israel Thu, 01 Oct 2026 12:45:07 +0000 Agence France-Presse Agence France-Presse Israel’s leader credited the Indian pilot of a Dubai-Tel Aviv flight, as well as the aircraft’s passengers, with averting catastrophe on Wednesday after the man was attacked by his co-pilot, sparking a fight for control of the aircraft and forcing an emergency landing. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said the co-pilot of the Flydubai jet had been trying to crash it and kill all its passengers, with Israel’s foreign ministry denouncing the incident as “an attempted terrorist attack” aimed at... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/world/middle-east/article/3369392/israel-pm-hails-indian-pilot-wounded-diverted-flydubai-flight https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/world/middle-east/article/3369392/israel-pm-hails-indian-pilot-wounded-diverted-flydubai-flight Wed, 30 Sep 2026 20:45:03 +0000 Reuters Reuters Standing water ⁠in Thailand’s capital is expected ⁠to clear within three days if there is no additional rainfall, the government has said, as flag carrier Thai Airways struggled to resume regular services following heavy rain and flooding. The ‌cabinet would discuss long-term plans to address flooding and recovery measures on Tuesday, government spokesman Ekkapob Pianpises told a news briefing on Tuesday. Bangkok was hit by around 320mm (12.6 inches) of rain over two to three days last week,... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/asia/southeast-asia/article/3369161/one-bangkok-flood-battle-after-another-thai-airways-races-clear-baggage-backlog https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/asia/southeast-asia/article/3369161/one-bangkok-flood-battle-after-another-thai-airways-races-clear-baggage-backlog Tue, 29 Sep 2026 06:33:42 +0000 Miguel Enriquez Miguel Enriquez Eighty years ago, former World War II pilots Roy Farrell and Sydney de Kantzow registered Cathay Pacific Airways in Hong Kong. Operations began with a single, converted Douglas DC-3 nicknamed “Betsy” which initially flew much-needed goods between Australia and post-war Shanghai. Today, the airline operates a fleet of 180 aircraft and, together with its budget arm HK Express, transported 37 million passengers in 2025. In this On This Day article, we chart the company’s history through SCMP’s... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/hong-kong/article/3368673/cathay-pacifics-journey-single-post-war-plane-aviation-powerhouse-scmp-archive https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/hong-kong/article/3368673/cathay-pacifics-journey-single-post-war-plane-aviation-powerhouse-scmp-archive Mon, 28 Sep 2026 05:15:05 +0000 Ralph Jennings Ralph Jennings Travellers in China and the US would welcome more direct flights, as suggested by Chinese President Xi Jinping in Washington this week, but the American civil aviation industry has less interest in adding such routes as long as their planes cannot fly over Russian airspace. At a White House arrival ceremony on Thursday, Xi said that “our two sides may also increase direct flights to facilitate two-way travel and trade”. Analysts said passenger demand existed for more than the 50 weekly... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/economy/article/3368776/more-us-china-flights-passengers-ready-pack-us-airlines-balk-xi-jinpings-call https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/economy/article/3368776/more-us-china-flights-passengers-ready-pack-us-airlines-balk-xi-jinpings-call Fri, 25 Sep 2026 08:00:28 +0000 Eric Jiang Eric Jiang Hong Kong risks losing its status as an international aviation hub if it fails to secure a reliable, credibly certified supply of sustainable aviation fuel (SAF), the head of the government’s think tank has warned. Stephen Wong Yuen-shan, head of the Chief Executive’s Policy Unit, made the remarks at the Sustainable Aviation Futures China Congress on Tuesday, days after the government set out its fuel strategy in the city’s first five-year plan and policy address amid mounting global... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/hong-kong/hong-kong-economy/article/3368421/hong-kong-urged-secure-sustainable-fuel-supply-safeguard-aviation-hub-status https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/hong-kong/hong-kong-economy/article/3368421/hong-kong-urged-secure-sustainable-fuel-supply-safeguard-aviation-hub-status Tue, 22 Sep 2026 13:06:28 +0000 Reuters Reuters Thousands of flights across the US were snarled on Monday, with incoming flights halted for hours at major East Coast airports, before the Federal Aviation Administration resolved a telecommunications problem late in the afternoon. The issue started around 9.45am when workers accidentally cut a telecom line in New Jersey used by the FAA. This forced a halt to incoming flights at major airports on the day that 130 world leaders and dozens of ministers were arriving in New ‌York for the annual... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/world/united-states-canada/article/3368302/flights-halted-eastern-us-airports-world-leaders-arrive-new-york-un-meeting https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/world/united-states-canada/article/3368302/flights-halted-eastern-us-airports-world-leaders-arrive-new-york-un-meeting Mon, 21 Sep 2026 18:18:07 +0000 Emma Ma,Mia Nurmamat Emma Ma,Mia Nurmamat A major Chinese tech hub is moving to pull the plug on dedicated funding for its low-altitude economy, making it the first city in the country to propose repealing a full financial support package for the sector. The proposal in Hangzhou, the capital of Zhejiang province, comes after the deadly crash of a small aircraft into Beijing’s tallest skyscraper in June. Still, some analysts contend that the reversal does not signal broader policy tightening for the low-altitude economy, but rather a... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/economy/china-economy/article/3368273/china-first-low-altitude-sector-hits-turbulence-subsidies-face-reality-check https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/economy/china-economy/article/3368273/china-first-low-altitude-sector-hits-turbulence-subsidies-face-reality-check Mon, 21 Sep 2026 12:30:10 +0000 Eric Jiang Eric Jiang Hong Kong flag carrier Cathay Pacific Airways has urged the government to develop a longer-term plan for sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) beyond 2030, including mandatory targets and consistent policies to help scale up the industry and meet the city’s climate goals. The airline made the call after a mainland Chinese official on Monday proposed that authorities in the Greater Bay Area introduce more favourable policies, including subsidies, to boost sales of sustainable fuel. Cathay Group CEO... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/hong-kong/hong-kong-economy/article/3368234/cathay-calls-hong-kong-map-out-long-term-sustainable-fuel-plan-beyond-2030 https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/hong-kong/hong-kong-economy/article/3368234/cathay-calls-hong-kong-map-out-long-term-sustainable-fuel-plan-beyond-2030 Mon, 21 Sep 2026 08:14:11 +0000 Reuters Reuters Europe faces a fourth-quarter jet fuel deficit, even as it turns to far-flung suppliers including South Korea, which is set to boost its jet exports to Europe to a four-year high in September, according to analysts and shipping data. The continent has been importing more jet fuel from nations including Nigeria, the United States and Canada since the outbreak of the Iran war over half a year ago, which hit Middle Eastern supplies and cut off around half of Europe’s jet imports. Europe remains... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/asia/east-asia/article/3368183/south-korea-steps-plug-europes-jet-fuel-deficit https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/asia/east-asia/article/3368183/south-korea-steps-plug-europes-jet-fuel-deficit Mon, 21 Sep 2026 00:59:26 +0000 Frank Chen Frank Chen When President Xi Jinping travels to Washington later this month, he is likely to hop over the Pacific on a Boeing 747 jumbo jet. He will also hold the fate of the American planemaker’s much-touted China deal in his hands. Beijing agreed to purchase 200 Boeing aircraft during US President Donald Trump’s visit to China in May. But the deal has yet to materialise – and the negotiations could depend on the outcome of Xi’s coming meeting with Trump in the Oval Office, according to industry... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/economy/china-economy/article/3368005/boeings-200-jet-china-deal-could-hinge-trump-xi-talks-industry-insiders https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/economy/china-economy/article/3368005/boeings-200-jet-china-deal-could-hinge-trump-xi-talks-industry-insiders Sun, 20 Sep 2026 12:00:08 +0000 Associated Press Associated Press A preliminary report on Friday blamed a millisecond-software defect for the cancellation of over 2,000 flights in and out of the United Kingdom last week. NATS, formerly known as National Air Traffic Services, said on Friday that the glitch on September 8 was behind the mayhem at British airports and beyond, rather than any human failings – as many had speculated at the time. It said a software defect in the National Airspace System, which allocates codes so air traffic controllers can identify... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/world/europe/article/3368068/over-2000-uk-flight-cancellations-traced-millisecond-software-defect https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/world/europe/article/3368068/over-2000-uk-flight-cancellations-traced-millisecond-software-defect Fri, 18 Sep 2026 15:05:38 +0000 Bloomberg Bloomberg Singapore Airlines was awarded the title of world’s best airline in the annual rankings by Skytrax, taking the top spot from Qatar Airways in a year that saw Middle Eastern carriers come under significant pressure from the ongoing war in Iran. The award, which is based on a survey of almost 25 million travellers, was announced in London on Friday, with a list dominated by Asian carriers. Only one European airline – Air France-KLM – made the top 10, and not a single US company, despite their... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/asia/southeast-asia/article/3368059/singapore-airlines-takes-worlds-best-carrier-crown-qatar-airways https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/asia/southeast-asia/article/3368059/singapore-airlines-takes-worlds-best-carrier-crown-qatar-airways Fri, 18 Sep 2026 13:26:46 +0000 Gabriel Dominguez Gabriel Dominguez China may be aiming to equip its sixth-generation fighter jets with laser weapons that experts say could help defend them against incoming missiles. At the 14th China International Defence Electronics Exhibition, held in Beijing from September 15 to 17, the Aviation Industry Corporation of China (AVIC) Beijing Precision Engineering Institute for Aircraft Industry presented details of a “fighter aircraft laser-weapon tracking and aiming system”. According to social media posts, the booth display... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/china/military/article/3368015/could-chinas-sixth-generation-fighter-carry-laser-defend-against-incoming-missiles https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/china/military/article/3368015/could-chinas-sixth-generation-fighter-carry-laser-defend-against-incoming-missiles Fri, 18 Sep 2026 12:00:07 +0000