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AeroTime • Stephen Pope

SriLankan Airlines ex-CEO Kapila Chandrasena found dead amid Airbus bribery investigation

Kapila Chandrasena, former CEO of SriLankan Airlines, was found dead while police said he was under investigation for allegedly taking a bribe linked to an Airbus aircraft purchase. The probe centers on a reported $16 million payment for 10 Airbus planes in a corruption case involving a $2.3 billion deal.

2026-05-08T16:19:34.351909-07:00

Space Intel Report

Thaicom reports 9.2% drop in satellite service revenue; eyes iPStar/Thaicom 4 retirement

2026-05-08T12:36:54.011419-07:00

FlightGlobal

Singapore Airlines to launch Madrid service via Barcelona from Oct 2026, expanding European frequencies

2026-05-07T23:50:13.239237-07:00

skydrive.co.jp

SkyDrive launches Osaka vertiport consortium to enable Japan’s first commercial eVTOL operations

2026-05-08T03:58:50.146118-07:00

News Timeline

AeroTime

SriLankan Airlines ex-CEO Kapila Chandrasena found dead amid Airbus bribery investigation Kapila Chandrasena, former CEO of SriLankan Airlines, was found dead while police said he was under investigation for allegedly taking a bribe linked to an Airbus aircraft purchase. The probe centers on a reported $16 million payment for 10 Airbus planes in a corruption case involving a $2.3 billion deal.

2026-05-08T16:19:34.351909-07:00

SriLankan Airlines ex-CEO Kapila Chandrasena found dead amid Airbus bribery investigation

Space Intel Report

Thaicom reports 9.2% drop in satellite service revenue; eyes iPStar/Thaicom 4 retirement Thaicom says satellite service revenue fell 9.2% for the three months ended March 31, attributing the decline to continued weaker broadcast revenue, even as profit rose in its satellite division. The operator also points to the summer retirement of iPStar/Thaicom 4 as a near-term fleet inflection point.

2026-05-08T12:36:54.011419-07:00

Thaicom reports 9.2% drop in satellite service revenue; eyes iPStar/Thaicom 4 retirement

AeroTime

KF-21 Boramae declared fully combat-ready after final DAPA evaluation South Korea’s DAPA has declared the KF-21 Boramae fully combat-ready, concluding nearly three years of evaluation and clearing the fighter for operational service. The decision marks the end of the programme’s final confirmation phase and enables the aircraft’s transition into routine service operations.

2026-05-08T08:02:37.706087-07:00

KF-21 Boramae declared fully combat-ready after final DAPA evaluation

FlightGlobal

Myanmar runway-sidestep incident: ATR 72-600 brake failure cited after taxiing loss of control struck Airbus A319 at Yangon Myanmar investigators say an ATR 72-600 taxiing at Yangon on 20 April 2026 lost control after a brake system failure, resulting in a strike on an Airbus A319. Video prompted the disclosure, with authorities issuing preliminary findings to document the sequence leading to the impact.

2026-05-08T05:30:52.729591-07:00

Myanmar runway-sidestep incident: ATR 72-600 brake failure cited after taxiing loss of control struck Airbus A319 at Yangon

skydrive.co.jp

SkyDrive launches Osaka vertiport consortium to enable Japan’s first commercial eVTOL operations SkyDrive says it has formed Japan’s first consortium for the commercial operation and joint usage of an eVTOL vertiport, launching the initiative in Osaka. The partnership is aimed at standing up shared vertiport capabilities to support SkyDrive’s path from demonstrations toward revenue service.

2026-05-08T03:58:50.146118-07:00

SkyDrive launches Osaka vertiport consortium to enable Japan’s first commercial eVTOL operations

FlightGlobal

Baykar signs first Kizilelma export contract with Indonesia for 12 UCAVs (options up to 48) starting in 2028 Baykar has finalized its first export agreement for the jet-powered Kizilelma unmanned combat aircraft with Indonesia’s Republikorp, covering deliveries of 12 UCAVs beginning in 2028 and options for 36 additional airframes (48 total). The deal follows Baykar’s Kizilelma export bid and its public display of the full-scale model at SAHA 2026.

2026-05-08T01:51:35.055091-07:00

Baykar signs first Kizilelma export contract with Indonesia for 12 UCAVs (options up to 48) starting in 2028

FlightGlobal

RAAF explores autonomous uncrewed cargo aircraft to extend logistics across Australia’s northern range The Royal Australian Air Force is evaluating autonomous airborne logistics using uncrewed cargo aircraft to support far-flung locations in Australia’s north. The effort targets increased reach for military installations across the country’s vast distances, reducing dependence on manned sorties and ground transport.

2026-05-07T23:50:15.216158-07:00

RAAF explores autonomous uncrewed cargo aircraft to extend logistics across Australia’s northern range

FlightGlobal

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Singapore Airlines to launch Madrid service via Barcelona from Oct 2026, expanding European frequencies Singapore Airlines will add a new Singapore–Madrid route departing from late-October 2026, with the itinerary routed via Barcelona. It is also increasing services to Manchester, London Gatwick and Milan, while expanding to Munich as part of a broader Europe network build-out.

2026-05-07T23:50:13.239237-07:00

Singapore Airlines to launch Madrid service via Barcelona from Oct 2026, expanding European frequencies

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Asia-Pacific (APAC) News

SriLankan Airlines ex-CEO Kapila Chandrasena found dead amid Airbus bribery investigation

Thaicom reports 9.2% drop in satellite service revenue; eyes iPStar/Thaicom 4 retirement

Singapore Airlines to launch Madrid service via Barcelona from Oct 2026, expanding European frequencies

SkyDrive launches Osaka vertiport consortium to enable Japan’s first commercial eVTOL operations

News Timeline