https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/rss/43150/feed Boeing is a US multinational aerospace and defence group, which was founded in 1916 by William Boeing. The company merged with McDonnell Douglas in 1997, and its business units include Boeing Commercial Airplanes (BCA); Boeing Defense, Space & Security (BDS); Engineering, Operations & Technology; Boeing Capital; and Boeing Shared Services Group. en https://assets-v2.i-scmp.com/production/static/img/icons/scmp-meta-1200x630.png https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg 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?utm_source=rss_feed 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?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 14 Oct 2026 06:52:28 +0000 Cannix Yau Cannix Yau Aviation investigators in Hong Kong are working to determine why a cockpit control on a Boeing cargo freighter moved forward during landing last year, killing two security personnel after the plane veered off a runway and into the sea. The Air Accident Investigation Authority (AAIA), an independent body under the Transport and Logistics Bureau, provided an update on Tuesday on the fatal incident involving the Boeing freighter, owned by Turkish cargo airline ACT Airlines and operated on behalf of... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/hong-kong/transport/article/3370759/investigators-probe-cockpit-control-movement-fatal-cargo-plane-runway-crash?utm_source=rss_feed https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/hong-kong/transport/article/3370759/investigators-probe-cockpit-control-movement-fatal-cargo-plane-runway-crash?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 13 Oct 2026 11:48:41 +0000 Alcott Wei Alcott Wei In a first, China’s biggest air show will feature a dedicated naval equipment exhibition area, showcasing hardware in service with the country’s navy, according to the event’s organisers. This year is the 30th anniversary of the biennial China International Aviation & Aerospace Exhibition, also known as the Zhuhai air show, which displays China’s civilian and military aircraft for international buyers. A number of China’s aircraft have debuted at the event, including the J-20 stealth fighter,... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/china/military/article/3370742/chinas-zhuhai-air-show-feature-first-ever-dedicated-naval-equipment-display?utm_source=rss_feed https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/china/military/article/3370742/chinas-zhuhai-air-show-feature-first-ever-dedicated-naval-equipment-display?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 13 Oct 2026 10:00:17 +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?utm_source=rss_feed https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/world/middle-east/article/3369612/indian-pilot-hailed-hero-recalls-flydubai-cockpit-attack?utm_source=rss_feed 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?utm_source=rss_feed https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/world/middle-east/article/3369475/investigators-probe-why-co-pilot-stabbed-captain-flydubai-flight-israel?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 01 Oct 2026 12:45:07 +0000 Gabriel Dominguez Gabriel Dominguez Washington is “not too far away” from a production line for its F-47 sixth-generation fighter, a senior US Air Force official has said, as China presses ahead with flight-testing two different next-generation combat aircraft of its own. During a virtual event hosted by the Mitchell Institute for Aerospace Studies on Monday, Brigadier General Timothy Helfrich, the service’s portfolio acquisition executive for fighters and advanced aircraft, said the F-47 would be “the world’s first... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/china/military/article/3369429/us-says-f-47-will-be-first-sixth-gen-jet-chinas-j-36-and-j-50-are-already-flying?utm_source=rss_feed https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/china/military/article/3369429/us-says-f-47-will-be-first-sixth-gen-jet-chinas-j-36-and-j-50-are-already-flying?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 01 Oct 2026 12:30:16 +0000 Agence France-Presse Agence France-Presse The Pentagon has chosen Boeing to build the US Navy’s next-generation fighter jets in a contract valued at US$20 billion, officials announced Tuesday. The contract is to produce F/A-XX aircraft or “strike fighters” under the “Next Generation Air Dominance Program,” a Pentagon statement said, adding that the new jets would replace the legacy Super Hornets fleet beginning in the 2030s. The announcement marks the second time Boeing has been selected by the Pentagon during the second Trump... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/world/united-states-canada/article/3369281/pentagon-picks-boeing-build-new-carrier-fighter-jet-replace-f/18?utm_source=rss_feed https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/world/united-states-canada/article/3369281/pentagon-picks-boeing-build-new-carrier-fighter-jet-replace-f/18?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 30 Sep 2026 03:52:10 +0000 Wenran Jiang Wenran Jiang For all the solemnity of the B-2 flyover with four F‑22 Raptors and a silent South Lawn drill, the real business of US President Donald Trump’s meeting with Chinese President Xi Jinping last week was narrower than the choreography. The Chinese readout reiterated the concept that should frame the relationship’s next phase: constructive strategic stability – cooperation as the primary track, competition kept within bounds, differences managed, conflict avoided. Stripped of banquet rhetoric, the... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/opinion/china-opinion/article/3368840/us-china-relationship-has-stabilised-beijings-terms?utm_source=rss_feed https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/opinion/china-opinion/article/3368840/us-china-relationship-has-stabilised-beijings-terms?utm_source=rss_feed Sun, 27 Sep 2026 21:30:08 +0000 Caroline Lin Caroline Lin Over private tea in the White House Red Room to mark the end of Xi Jinping’s state visit, US President Donald Trump struck a relaxed tone, marvelling across the table at how fast the Chinese leader had made the trip to America. “It’s a very fast plane … the fastest plane,” Trump said, in footage captured after the White House TV press pool resumed coverage following a court ruling that restored access to outlets previously banned by the US president. “[It was due to] its route,” Xi replied. “We... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/china/diplomacy/article/3368906/why-xis-flight-path-china-us-was-hours-faster-trumps-may?utm_source=rss_feed https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/china/diplomacy/article/3368906/why-xis-flight-path-china-us-was-hours-faster-trumps-may?utm_source=rss_feed Sat, 26 Sep 2026 12:00:56 +0000 Orange Wang Orange Wang Before setting off for Washington on Wednesday, Chinese President Xi Jinping had some correspondence to attend to. Dozens of students from 10 US universities, including Harvard, had written to Xi about their experiences on an exchange trip to China this year. According to the State Council, Xi responded with a call to the students to advance cooperation between the two countries. The gesture extended a pattern. For decades, Beijing has often turned to unofficial channels, from prominent... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/china/diplomacy/article/3368733/ping-pong-pickleball-chinas-unofficial-approach-diplomatic-messaging?utm_source=rss_feed https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/china/diplomacy/article/3368733/ping-pong-pickleball-chinas-unofficial-approach-diplomatic-messaging?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 25 Sep 2026 01:30:39 +0000 Meredith Chen Meredith Chen With Chinese President Xi Jinping expected in Washington this week, attention is turning to the aircraft that will carry him and how it stacks up against America’s presidential plane. The aircraft carrying China’s leader, often referred to in state media and official statements as a zhuan ji, or special plane, remains far less known to the world than Air Force One, despite both countries using Boeing 747s for presidential travel. For a head of state, a presidential aircraft is more than a means... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/china/diplomacy/article/3368451/how-does-xi-jinpings-special-plane-compare-air-force-one?utm_source=rss_feed https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/china/diplomacy/article/3368451/how-does-xi-jinpings-special-plane-compare-air-force-one?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 23 Sep 2026 03:00:11 +0000 Sylvia Ma Sylvia Ma As President Xi Jinping prepares to travel to the United States to meet his American counterpart Donald Trump, attention is turning to the group of business leaders who could join him. The South China Morning Post previously reported that executives from electric vehicle maker BYD, smart manufacturing giant Xiaomi and battery maker Contemporary Amperex Technology Limited were likely to accompany Xi on the trip – though Beijing has yet to officially confirm the delegation. What has raised... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/economy/global-economy/article/3368409/why-chinas-frontier-ai-pioneers-are-expected-miss-weeks-xi-trump-summit?utm_source=rss_feed https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/economy/global-economy/article/3368409/why-chinas-frontier-ai-pioneers-are-expected-miss-weeks-xi-trump-summit?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 22 Sep 2026 14:00:05 +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?utm_source=rss_feed 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?utm_source=rss_feed Sun, 20 Sep 2026 12:00:08 +0000 Reuters Reuters One pilot of the Amazon Prime Air cargo plane that crashed in Miami on Sunday cautioned they were flying “too fast” just over a minute before touching down on the runway they overran, the National Transportation Safety Board said. The pilot continued to comment on the plane’s speed while automated warnings sounded in the cockpit. However, the other ‌pilot did not give a clear verbal response, according to the cockpit voice recording detailed in an investigative update on Wednesday that did not... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/world/united-states-canada/article/3367005/too-fast-too-low-pilot-pressed-landing-despite-warnings-miami-crash?utm_source=rss_feed https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/world/united-states-canada/article/3367005/too-fast-too-low-pilot-pressed-landing-despite-warnings-miami-crash?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 10 Sep 2026 04:55:52 +0000 Reuters Reuters Investigators with the US National Transportation Safety Board said on Monday they had recovered the flight data recorder and cockpit voice recorder from an Amazon Prime Air cargo plane that overran the runway and crashed while landing in Miami on Sunday, killing five people ‌on the ground. NTSB Chairwoman Jennifer Homendy said the two devices, commonly referred to as the black boxes, were being returned to the agency’s headquarters in Washington on Monday night for evaluation. The 32-year-old... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/world/united-states-canada/article/3366697/black-boxes-recovered-amazon-cargo-plane-crash-miami?utm_source=rss_feed https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/world/united-states-canada/article/3366697/black-boxes-recovered-amazon-cargo-plane-crash-miami?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 07 Sep 2026 22:58:37 +0000 Meredith Chen Meredith Chen A Boeing 747-8 operated by Air China reportedly suffered a fuel leak at New York’s John F. Kennedy International Airport early on Monday, forcing the cancellation of the flight. No injuries were reported in or around the aircraft, which was expected to operate flight CA982 from New York to Beijing that day. The leak is said to have occurred between 1am and 2am while the plane was parked at the gate, according to posts on Chinese social media. It was being refuelled when the fuel truck moved... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/china/politics/article/3366093/air-china-boeing-747-grounded-new-york-following-gate-refuelling-incident?utm_source=rss_feed https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/china/politics/article/3366093/air-china-boeing-747-grounded-new-york-following-gate-refuelling-incident?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 02 Sep 2026 08:15:53 +0000 Associated Press Associated Press South Korea’s police said on Thursday they were seeking indictments of seven transport ministry officials over the 2024 Jeju Air crash that killed all but two of the 181 people on board. The Boeing 737-800 operated by Jeju Air skidded off the runway at Muan International Airport in southern South Korea after its landing gear failed to deploy, slamming into a concrete structure and bursting into flames. Authorities have found traces of bird strike in the plane’s engines and the plane’s two black... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/asia/east-asia/article/3365399/south-korean-police-look-charge-7-lying-about-concrete-structure-jeju-air-crash?utm_source=rss_feed https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/asia/east-asia/article/3365399/south-korean-police-look-charge-7-lying-about-concrete-structure-jeju-air-crash?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 27 Aug 2026 04:06:52 +0000 Frank Chen Frank Chen More Chinese carriers are willing to operate home-grown aircraft, especially the C919, if more can roll off the assembly line faster, but the demand-supply mismatch means it is now a trying time for the country’s leading planemaker, according to industrial insiders. They added that a parts shortage facing the manufacturer may be more than about aero engines. Executives from at least two airlines told an aviation forum held in Guangzhou on Thursday and Friday that they would welcome the marquee... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/economy/article/3364151/more-interest-home-grown-c919-lays-bare-demand-supply-mismatch-comac?utm_source=rss_feed https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/economy/article/3364151/more-interest-home-grown-c919-lays-bare-demand-supply-mismatch-comac?utm_source=rss_feed Sun, 16 Aug 2026 14:00:06 +0000 Aisyah Llewellyn Aisyah Llewellyn For Indonesian families who lost loved ones in the 2018 Lion Air crash that killed 189 people, the latest development in the US courts has deepened their pain that justice remains out of reach. Keith Griffin, a Californian lawyer who worked with disgraced Hollywood celebrity lawyer Tom Girardi in compensation suits related to the crash, was sentenced by a federal court in Chicago last week to one day in prison with credit for time served, meaning he avoided any further time behind... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/week-asia/people/article/3364093/indonesian-families-lion-air-crash-victims-suffer-again-predatory-lawyer-evades-jail?utm_source=rss_feed https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/week-asia/people/article/3364093/indonesian-families-lion-air-crash-victims-suffer-again-predatory-lawyer-evades-jail?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 14 Aug 2026 11:37:04 +0000 Reuters Reuters ⁠Bird remains were found ⁠in the engine of a Ryanair Boeing 737 NG plane where a passenger was partially sucked through a broken window shortly after take-off from Greece in July, the US National Transportation Safety Board said on Thursday. The NTSB ‌is investigating the incident where a piece of the engine broke off the plane and smashed the window. The plane, headed to Germany, lost pressure and was forced to make an emergency landing. The NTSB said in its preliminary report into the July 10... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/world/europe/article/3363961/bird-remains-found-engine-after-man-nearly-sucked-out-window-ryanair-flight?utm_source=rss_feed https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/world/europe/article/3363961/bird-remains-found-engine-after-man-nearly-sucked-out-window-ryanair-flight?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 13 Aug 2026 20:30:30 +0000 Xinyi Wu Xinyi Wu Arriving at his gate at Beijing Capital International Airport for a routine business trip to the Mongolian capital of Ulaanbaatar on Wednesday, Howard Deng was unaware he was about to take part in a Chinese aviation milestone. Air China flight 723 marked the first international service featuring the domestically produced C919 narrowbody jet from Commercial Aircraft Corporation of China (Comac), central to Beijing’s ambition to challenge the global duopoly of Boeing and Airbus. As one of 111... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/economy/article/3363904/very-smooth-passenger-shares-experience-c919s-first-commercial-international-flight?utm_source=rss_feed https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/economy/article/3363904/very-smooth-passenger-shares-experience-c919s-first-commercial-international-flight?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 13 Aug 2026 09:30:08 +0000 Jevans Nyabiage Jevans Nyabiage Ethiopia’s new US$12.5 billion mega-airport project has thrust the nation into the heart of a geopolitical tug of war between the United States and China. Ethiopian Airlines, Africa’s largest carrier, is developing the massive Bishoftu International Airport, located 40km (25 miles) southeast of the capital Addis Ababa to serve as a primary hub for African trade and travel. The project has triggered intense competition between would-be contractors from around the world, but Chinese state-owned... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/china/diplomacy/article/3363853/us-china-rivalry-takes-flight-over-scramble-contracts-ethiopias-bishoftu-airport?utm_source=rss_feed https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/china/diplomacy/article/3363853/us-china-rivalry-takes-flight-over-scramble-contracts-ethiopias-bishoftu-airport?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 13 Aug 2026 04:24:37 +0000 Agence France-Presse Agence France-Presse US President Donald Trump secretly flew out of Turkey last month on a smaller plane than previously known due to an assassination threat from Iran, The Washington Post reported on Monday. According to an anonymous US official who spoke to the Post, Trump boarded an Air Force One jet in Ankara on July 8, but then moved into a catering container attached to the plane. The container then ferried him to a smaller C-32A aircraft that flew him to Britain, while media and some officials were led to... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/world/united-states-canada/article/3363600/how-us-staged-air-force-one-departure-hide-trumps-secret-exit-turkey?utm_source=rss_feed https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/world/united-states-canada/article/3363600/how-us-staged-air-force-one-departure-hide-trumps-secret-exit-turkey?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 11 Aug 2026 03:31:34 +0000 William Zheng William Zheng A China Southern Airlines flight was forced to abandon its departure and return to the gate at Shenzhen airport over the weekend after the Airbus A321 aircraft was struck by lightning while taxiing. Flight CZ3209, bound for the city of Wuxi in China’s eastern Jiangsu province, was waiting on the ground during a heavy thunderstorm on Saturday afternoon when the incident occurred, according to a report by The First Scene, a news portal under Shenzhen Media Group. The incident came to light on... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/china/politics/article/3363538/lightning-hits-china-southern-airbus-a321-while-taxiing-20-strike-marks-found?utm_source=rss_feed https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/china/politics/article/3363538/lightning-hits-china-southern-airbus-a321-while-taxiing-20-strike-marks-found?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 10 Aug 2026 09:49:23 +0000 Agence France-Presse Agence France-Presse India’s aviation ministry said Sunday that an Air India pilot whose flight plunged dramatically in turbulence, injuring 17 passengers and crew is undergoing a “confirmatory” psychoactive drug test. The Airbus A320, carrying 137 passengers and eight crew, lost around 300 feet (91 metres) on August 4 while flying from Phuket in Thailand to New Delhi, before stabilising and landing safely, the civil aviation ministry said. Eight passengers and four cabin crew members were admitted to hospitals... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/asia/south-asia/article/3363459/air-india-pilot-undergoes-confirmatory-drug-test-after-flight-plunge?utm_source=rss_feed https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/asia/south-asia/article/3363459/air-india-pilot-undergoes-confirmatory-drug-test-after-flight-plunge?utm_source=rss_feed Sun, 09 Aug 2026 15:16:32 +0000 Frank Chen Frank Chen A near-miss on Tuesday involving an All Nippon Airways (ANA) plane coming dangerously close to another jet while approaching Tokyo’s Haneda Airport from Shanghai has thrown aviation safety back into focus – particularly, anti-collision technology and protocols – according to industry professionals based in China. While the intervention of one jet’s traffic collision avoidance system (TCAS) prevented contact between the two planes, analysts said there were lessons China could learn from the... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/economy/global-economy/article/3363065/what-caused-near-miss-between-two-jets-near-tokyo-and-what-can-china-learn?utm_source=rss_feed https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/economy/global-economy/article/3363065/what-caused-near-miss-between-two-jets-near-tokyo-and-what-can-china-learn?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 06 Aug 2026 02:00:07 +0000 Alice Li Alice Li China’s first high-altitude variant of the C919 narrowbody jet has completed its maiden test flight at Shanghai Pudong International Airport, marking a step forward in the home-grown aircraft’s challenge to Boeing and Airbus. Derived from the standard C919 platform, the specialised variant features a shortened fuselage and enhanced systems engineered for operations in high-altitude regions, the Communist Party mouthpiece People’s Daily reported on Monday. The plane will undergo comprehensive... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/economy/china-economy/article/3362776/high-altitude-variant-chinas-c919-airliner-completes-first-test-flight-shanghai?utm_source=rss_feed https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/economy/china-economy/article/3362776/high-altitude-variant-chinas-c919-airliner-completes-first-test-flight-shanghai?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 03 Aug 2026 07:27:37 +0000 Gabriel Dominguez Gabriel Dominguez Canada has been given a front-row seat to a British-Italian-Japanese effort to develop a sixth-generation fighter aircraft, allowing Ottawa to diversify its defence partnerships as the US and China vie for an edge in future air power. In London on Tuesday, Canadian Defence Minister David McGuinty joined his British, Italian and Japanese counterparts – Wes Streeting, Guido Crosetto and Shinjiro Koizumi – to sign Canada up as an observer of the Global Combat Air Programme (GCAP). It marks the... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/china/military/article/3361465/canada-becomes-first-observer-british-italian-japanese-gcap-fighter-jet-project?utm_source=rss_feed https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/china/military/article/3361465/canada-becomes-first-observer-british-italian-japanese-gcap-fighter-jet-project?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 22 Jul 2026 10:00:35 +0000 Reuters Reuters US President Donald Trump said that the ⁠Qatari-donated jet that served as an Air ⁠Force One plane would soon be sent away for upgrades, following questions about the plane’s security features. Trump started flying aboard the jumbo jet on July 1 after accepting the plane as a gift last year, when an accelerated effort to renovate the ‌Boeing 747 for presidential use began. But Trump unexpectedly ditched the plane on a flight from Turkey to the United Kingdom amid rising hostility with Iran on... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/world/united-states-canada/article/3361160/trumps-new-air-force-one-be-maxed-out-following-missile-defence-fears?utm_source=rss_feed https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/world/united-states-canada/article/3361160/trumps-new-air-force-one-be-maxed-out-following-missile-defence-fears?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 20 Jul 2026 04:04:12 +0000 Xiaofei Xu Xiaofei Xu Airbus has secured an order for 55 aircraft from two Chinese airlines, including 15 widebody A350 jets, strengthening the European giant’s widebody sales in the world’s second-largest air transport market. Air China, one of the country’s three major state-owned carriers, announced the deal on Friday. The flag carrier said it would purchase 15 A350-900 passenger jets, while its subsidiary Shenzhen Airlines would acquire 40 narrowbody A320neo aircraft. The new-generation A350-900 and A320neo... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/economy/china-economy/article/3361001/airbus-sells-55-aircraft-including-15-widebody-a350s-2-chinese-airlines?utm_source=rss_feed https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/economy/china-economy/article/3361001/airbus-sells-55-aircraft-including-15-widebody-a350s-2-chinese-airlines?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 17 Jul 2026 13:30:24 +0000 Frank Chen Frank Chen China’s narrowbody C919 model is still on Malaysia Airlines’ radar, but Western certification remains the “preferred milestone” before consideration, according to a top executive, who added opportunities could present themselves in 2035 or beyond. In an interview with the South China Morning Post, Bryan Foong, chief executive officer of airline business at Malaysia Aviation Group (MAG), expressed optimism that the C919, assembled by the Commercial Aircraft Corporation of China (Comac), would... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/economy/china-economy/article/3360130/chinas-c919-still-malaysia-airlines-radar-western-certification-preferred?utm_source=rss_feed https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/economy/china-economy/article/3360130/chinas-c919-still-malaysia-airlines-radar-western-certification-preferred?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 13 Jul 2026 03:00:10 +0000 Tang Meng Kit Tang Meng Kit Last month, China Eastern ordered 25 A330neo jets from Airbus, which come at a catalogue price of US$9.35 billion. The airline, which operates the inaugural commercial routes of the C919, China’s home-grown passenger jet, had placed another Airbus order just three months earlier. Why is this major Chinese airline transferring billions to a European company China’s government is trying to supplant? As a widebody jet, the A330neo competes in a segment where the Commercial Aircraft Corporation of... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/opinion/china-opinion/article/3359345/eu-isnt-just-selling-aircraft-china-its-helping-strengthen-competitor?utm_source=rss_feed https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/opinion/china-opinion/article/3359345/eu-isnt-just-selling-aircraft-china-its-helping-strengthen-competitor?utm_source=rss_feed Sun, 12 Jul 2026 01:30:06 +0000 Agence France-Presse Agence France-Presse US President Donald Trump faces questions about the security of his new Air Force One plane gifted by Qatar, after he took an older jet home from a Nato summit this week. The billionaire president has barely been able to contain his excitement over the retrofitted Boeing 747-8 aircraft, which took him to Ankara on its maiden trip outside the United States. But then Trump abruptly announced in Turkey that he was sending the luxury plane on ahead to a British airbase – saying it was so US troops... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/world/united-states-canada/article/3360195/scare-force-one-security-questions-swirl-over-trumps-new-plane?utm_source=rss_feed https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/world/united-states-canada/article/3360195/scare-force-one-security-questions-swirl-over-trumps-new-plane?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 10 Jul 2026 20:37:51 +0000 Connor Mycroft,Jess Ma Connor Mycroft,Jess Ma Authorities are investigating a suspected fuel leak from a cargo aircraft at Hong Kong airport that prompted an emergency response from police and firefighters, the South China Morning Post has learned. A source said the airport control centre alerted police to a fuel leak from a Boeing 747 cargo aircraft operating flight CV531 at around 8.32am on Thursday, later confirmed to be from the aircraft’s left wing. “The aircraft was parked outside the Cathay Pacific Cargo Terminal at that time,” a... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/hong-kong/transport/article/3360014/authorities-investigate-fuel-leak-cargo-plane-hong-kong-airport?utm_source=rss_feed https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/hong-kong/transport/article/3360014/authorities-investigate-fuel-leak-cargo-plane-hong-kong-airport?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 09 Jul 2026 12:21:06 +0000 Reuters Reuters US President Donald Trump unexpectedly left Turkey on Wednesday aboard an older Air Force One rather than the newly renovated Qatari-donated jet that brought him there, but later boarded the new plane in Britain for the flight to Washington. The trip to Turkey for the Nato summit, the first international travel for the new ‌plane, took place as hostilities escalated with Iran, a country that borders Turkey. The unexpected plane switch followed months of scrutiny over the luxury gift intended to... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/world/united-states-canada/article/3359897/trump-unexpectedly-switches-back-old-air-force-one-sidelining-qatari-jet?utm_source=rss_feed https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/world/united-states-canada/article/3359897/trump-unexpectedly-switches-back-old-air-force-one-sidelining-qatari-jet?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 08 Jul 2026 17:43:14 +0000 Associated Press Associated Press US President Donald Trump on Wednesday took his maiden voyage on a new Air Force One – a retrofitted Boeing 747-800 worth US$400 million gifted by Qatar that embeds his personality more deeply into the institution of the American presidency. Gone is the trademark light blue hull that helped Air Force One blend into the sky. The refurbished jet is painted in Trump’s preferred colour scheme: a navy-blue belly with red and gold stripes. It has the luxury features that the president believes a... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/world/united-states-canada/article/3359076/trump-takes-first-flight-new-air-force-one-gift-qatar?utm_source=rss_feed https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/world/united-states-canada/article/3359076/trump-takes-first-flight-new-air-force-one-gift-qatar?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 01 Jul 2026 15:45:43 +0000 Xiaofei Xu Xiaofei Xu China Eastern Airlines has ordered 25 A330neo widebody jets from Airbus, marking the planemaker’s first major long-haul order from a Chinese carrier since last year, as the nation continues to favour the European manufacturer. The list price of the 25 aircraft is about US$9.35 billion, but China Eastern said in a statement on Friday that it had obtained a “substantial price discount” from Airbus, making the actual cost significantly less than the catalogue price. The Shanghai-based carrier... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/economy/article/3358540/china-eastern-buys-25-a330neo-widebody-jets-domestic-interest-rises-airbus-wings?utm_source=rss_feed https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/economy/article/3358540/china-eastern-buys-25-a330neo-widebody-jets-domestic-interest-rises-airbus-wings?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 26 Jun 2026 11:56:33 +0000 Ben Jiang Ben Jiang Trade representatives called for greater openness and connectivity to foster collaboration and growth among the 21 member economies of the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (Apec) forum, as they gathered at a high-level meeting in Beijing on Sunday amid a challenging global trade environment. “We need to firmly uphold the multilateral trade system anchored to the World Trade Organization while opposing unilateralism and protectionism,” said Ren Hongbing, chairman of the China Council for the... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/economy/global-economy/article/3357833/apec-forum-openness-and-collaboration-key-solving-global-trade-challenges?utm_source=rss_feed https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/economy/global-economy/article/3357833/apec-forum-openness-and-collaboration-key-solving-global-trade-challenges?utm_source=rss_feed Sun, 21 Jun 2026 13:39:07 +0000 Agencies Agencies A new Air Force One gifted by Qatar as a replacement aircraft for ferrying US presidents was unveiled on Friday by the US Air Force. “The Air Force’s VC-25B Bridge aircraft has officially arrived at the Presidential Airlift Group and will commence its initial commissioning flights, marking the successful delivery of a secure, modified executive platform,” the Air Force said. “The workmanship of this plane is, when you see it, you won’t believe it,” Trump said from inside the massive Andrews Air... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/world/united-states-canada/article/3357748/trump-unveils-new-air-force-one-gifted-him-qatar?utm_source=rss_feed https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/world/united-states-canada/article/3357748/trump-unveils-new-air-force-one-gifted-him-qatar?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 19 Jun 2026 20:00:28 +0000 Lucy Quaggin Lucy Quaggin A top US trade official took a veiled swipe at China on Thursday for a range of unfair trade practices, but also criticised the United States for being asleep at the wheel for far too long. “They subsidised, they dumped, they erected regulatory barriers, they supported state-owned enterprises, they used every tool available to build their industries and capture a greater share of the American market,” said William Kimmitt, the US under secretary of commerce for international trade, without... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/us/diplomacy/article/3357625/us-trade-official-takes-aim-beijing-faults-washington-industry?utm_source=rss_feed https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/us/diplomacy/article/3357625/us-trade-official-takes-aim-beijing-faults-washington-industry?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 18 Jun 2026 22:06:07 +0000 Agence France-Presse Agence France-Presse Is it goodbye Air Force One, hello Qatar Force One? White House officials bade farewell on Thursday to one of the two jets that have been used to transport US presidents for more than 30 years. The goodbye messages fuelled speculation that a Boeing 747 controversially gifted to President Donald Trump by the Gulf emirate of Qatar was due to enter service. “‘Well done, good and faithful servant. ‘The Last Ride,’” Trump’s communications director Steven Cheung said in a post on X with a picture of... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/world/united-states-canada/article/3357621/last-ride-us-says-goodbye-air-force-one-qatari-jet-awaits?utm_source=rss_feed https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/world/united-states-canada/article/3357621/last-ride-us-says-goodbye-air-force-one-qatari-jet-awaits?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 18 Jun 2026 21:02:58 +0000 Nayan Seth Nayan Seth Chinese ambassador to the United States Xie Feng on Wednesday proposed to increase the limit of tariff-free goods under the newly created US-China Board of Trade from the existing US$30 billion to US$300 billion – a 10-fold rise in non-sensitive trade covered by the mechanism. Addressing a gathering at the US-China Business Council gala in Washington, Xie said he shared the view of “many friends from American businesses” that the tariff-free basket was “far from big enough”. “I cannot agree... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/china/diplomacy/article/3357501/chinas-us-envoy-calls-10-fold-rise-tariff-free-trade-under-joint-board?utm_source=rss_feed https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/china/diplomacy/article/3357501/chinas-us-envoy-calls-10-fold-rise-tariff-free-trade-under-joint-board?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 18 Jun 2026 03:59:21 +0000 Julian Ryall Julian Ryall Japan’s push to build its own civil aviation sector and stay competitive in the technology race against China could receive a boost from a potential partnership with American aircraft giant Boeing. The country is already a key Boeing partner, possesses advanced manufacturing technologies and could benefit from a captive domestic market – factors that analysts say make its plan to develop a commercial aircraft viable, as it seeks to rebound from the failed SpaceJet airliner programme. “It’s what... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/week-asia/economics/article/3357407/japan-failed-build-its-own-airliner-now-its-turning-boeing?utm_source=rss_feed https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/week-asia/economics/article/3357407/japan-failed-build-its-own-airliner-now-its-turning-boeing?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 18 Jun 2026 00:00:09 +0000 Agence France-Presse Agence France-Presse Eight people died when a US B-52 bomber crashed and erupted into a catastrophic fire shortly after take-off at an air force base in California on Monday, officials said. The heavy bomber was on a routine testing mission with a mixture of military, government and civilian contractors on board when it came down in a huge fireball at Edwards Air Force Base, 95km (60 miles) north of Los Angeles. Footage of the aftermath of the crash, which officials said was “unsurvivable”, showed a large charred... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/world/united-states-canada/article/3357221/8-presumed-dead-after-b-52-bomber-crashes-us-military-base-california?utm_source=rss_feed https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/world/united-states-canada/article/3357221/8-presumed-dead-after-b-52-bomber-crashes-us-military-base-california?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 15 Jun 2026 22:52:56 +0000 Frank Chen Frank Chen Three years after its maiden commercial flight as China’s flagship civilian airliner, the C919 is entering a pivotal maintenance phase, with jets across the series being progressively grounded for rigorous inspections. The results of these safety-focused “C-checks” are expected to play a role in convincing European aviation regulators of the aircraft’s long-term airworthiness. State-owned carrier China Southern Airlines finished the first C-check of its C919 fleet at the end of May. The process... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/economy/china-economy/article/3357164/chinas-first-c919s-get-critical-c-checks-european-regulators-watch?utm_source=rss_feed https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/economy/china-economy/article/3357164/chinas-first-c919s-get-critical-c-checks-european-regulators-watch?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 15 Jun 2026 09:00:50 +0000 Khushboo Razdan Khushboo Razdan The United States can launch stealth bombers across continents, track missiles from space and deploy forces anywhere on the planet. But as the nation approaches its 250th birthday next month, studies suggest a more basic question demands attention in Washington: can the military reliably fuel, sustain and connect those forces in a crisis? From the skies to orbit, two new reports point to vulnerabilities in critical pillars of US power projection at a time of intensifying strategic competition... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/china/military/article/3356998/can-america-sustain-war-china-new-reports-raise-questions?utm_source=rss_feed https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/china/military/article/3356998/can-america-sustain-war-china-new-reports-raise-questions?utm_source=rss_feed Sat, 13 Jun 2026 10:00:12 +0000 Frank Chen Frank Chen A suspected bird strike on a Chinese-made C909 regional jet in Beijing has reportedly left some marks on its nose and airframe, but experts said the likelihood of any severe damage was very low. The incident underscores the real-world tests of reliability facing the model as it is more widely deployed at home and abroad, according to observers. Air China flight CA1150, arriving from Ordos in Inner Mongolia, struck a large bird as it approached Beijing Capital International Airport on Sunday... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/economy/china-economy/article/3356640/air-china-c909-hits-bird-chinese-jets-face-growing-real-world-tests?utm_source=rss_feed https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/economy/china-economy/article/3356640/air-china-c909-hits-bird-chinese-jets-face-growing-real-world-tests?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 10 Jun 2026 12:00:15 +0000 Nayan Seth Nayan Seth On a state visit to China last month, US President Donald Trump shocked his political base with a series of rhetorical concessions. In an interview, he warmly endorsed Chinese students studying in America, supported China-linked acquisition of US farmland, and dismissed concerns over state espionage as a routine, two-way reality. It was not the first time Trump’s softer stance on China clashed with his own administration’s hardline approach. Even before the summit, he repeatedly suggested... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/china/article/3356554/trumps-china-thaw-faces-resistance-congress-and-his-own-administration?utm_source=rss_feed https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/china/article/3356554/trumps-china-thaw-faces-resistance-congress-and-his-own-administration?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 09 Jun 2026 20:55:41 +0000 Ralph Jennings Ralph Jennings China’s massive civil aviation fleet is ageing faster than planes are being replaced, threatening to saddle airlines with higher costs, but orders for home-grown C919 jets could help stem the tide, according to the head of north Asia for the International Air Transport Association (IATA). Current aircraft replacements are failing to reach 2019 levels despite recent orders of Airbus and Boeing jets, IATA regional vice-president Xie Xingquan said at the industry group’s annual general meeting in... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/economy/china-economy/article/3356365/chinas-c919-jet-poised-tackle-ageing-domestic-fleet-industry-official?utm_source=rss_feed https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/economy/china-economy/article/3356365/chinas-c919-jet-poised-tackle-ageing-domestic-fleet-industry-official?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 08 Jun 2026 12:00:07 +0000 Frank Chen Frank Chen China’s home-grown airliners including the C909 and C919 series now have access to more repair and maintenance support for critical components such as engines and landing gear, as partnerships with service providers expand across the mainland and Hong Kong when jet deliveries and utilisation rise. With a wider network of support at home, these indigenous planes, assembled by the Commercial Aircraft Corporation of China (Comac), stand a better chance of riding out global supply chain disruptions... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/economy/china-economy/article/3355780/china-widens-repair-network-c919-c909-jets-outfly-supply-disruptions?utm_source=rss_feed https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/economy/china-economy/article/3355780/china-widens-repair-network-c919-c909-jets-outfly-supply-disruptions?utm_source=rss_feed Sun, 07 Jun 2026 12:00:06 +0000