Runway Girl
• Mary Kirby
Korean Air and Asiana Airlines are introducing Starlink-powered inflight Wi-Fi, expanding high-speed connectivity options for passengers. Both airlines are cautioning travelers that service will be unavailable or limited over China, underscoring the geographic constraints that can affect satellite-enabled connectivity on international routes.
Asia-Pacific (APAC)
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Korean Air and Asiana Airlines are introducing Starlink-powered inflight Wi-Fi, expanding high-speed connectivity options for passengers. Both airlines are cautioning travelers that service will be unavailable or limited over China, underscoring the geographic constraints that can affect satellite-enabled connectivity on international routes.
Boeing Defence Australia has selected U.S. company Lite Coms to provide beyond-line-of-sight satellite communications terminals for an Australian program. The agreement adds a U.S. supplier to Australia’s military SATCOM architecture, though the available details do not specify terminal quantities, platform integration or delivery timelines.
India has spent years lobbying Airbus and Boeing to establish final assembly lines in the country, seeking to replicate China’s aviation-industrial progress. But persistent weakness across its airline sector—and concerns about the Directorate General of Civil Aviation—continue to give both manufacturers reasons to hold back.
Safran Landing Systems has expanded its Singapore MRO capabilities with a $22 million investment, increasing landing-gear overhaul capacity and adding nearly 100 jobs by 2030. ReGEN is also opening a components hub at Changi Airfreight Centre to improve used serviceable material access for Asia-Pacific airlines and MRO providers.
VietJetAir is targeting expansion to as many as five air operator certificates over the next decade, signaling an ambition to broaden its operating structure and potentially support future growth across multiple markets. The available report does not provide further details on timing, jurisdictions or fleet plans.
Japan is expanding its first overseas military firefighting mission by splitting its Chinook fleet between the landing ship JS Kunisaki and a port in Indonesia. The deployment will support firefighting operations off Kalimantan while extending Japan’s regional disaster-response footprint.
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Synspective successfully deployed its 12th StriX synthetic-aperture radar satellite following a Rocket Lab Electron launch, while signing Mitsubishi Heavy Industries for a future H3 mission. The milestones extend the Japanese Earth-observation company’s constellation strategy and diversify its launch options beyond Electron.
Japan Airlines has extended its multi-year agreement with Embraer covering parts supply, maintenance and repair for 32 E170 and E190 aircraft operated by regional subsidiary J-AIR. The renewal supports faster access to critical components and sustained fleet availability across the carrier’s regional network.
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