Aviation Business News
• Rob Munro
Air Astana has pushed back the resumption of flights from Almaty and Astana to Dubai by another month, extending the suspension through September 30, 2026. The Kazakhstan carrier cited continued instability in the Gulf region, complicating network planning for Central Asian airlines.
Asia-Pacific (APAC)
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Air Astana has pushed back the resumption of flights from Almaty and Astana to Dubai by another month, extending the suspension through September 30, 2026. The Kazakhstan carrier cited continued instability in the Gulf region, complicating network planning for Central Asian airlines.
India’s Ministry of Defence has contracted General Atomics Aeronautical Systems to lease two MQ-9B SeaGuardian high-altitude, long-endurance remotely piloted aircraft systems to the Indian Navy for 30 months. The UAVs will support intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance, particularly maritime surveillance, with U.S. government backing for the partnership.
Shenzhen Airlines and Loong Air are evaluating the addition of COMAC C919s to their fleets, according to executive comments reported from an aviation forum in Guangzhou. Any future commitments would broaden the C919’s customer base among China’s major domestic carriers and strengthen its position in the Chinese market.
Vietjet plans to launch five new international routes, including three linking Vietnam and the Philippines, as it expands its presence in the Philippine market. The carrier’s latest network move is aimed at serving stronger tourism demand and increasing connectivity between the two Southeast Asian countries.
High activity
The articles combine two separate U.S.-led initiatives: a Space Force space-domain-awareness payload launched aboard Japan’s Quasi-Zenith Satellite 7, and the FAA’s $74.3 million initial task order to AT&T under its multibillion-dollar Enterprise Network Services modernization program.
China launched a new batch of Guowang megaconstellation satellites over the weekend, using a Long March 12 shortly after a Long March 7A failure. A separate Long March 2C mission carried a developmental satellite for the United Arab Emirates, highlighting continued launch activity across multiple vehicle families.
Taiwan’s Starlux Airlines plans to invest TWD4.2 billion ($132 million) in a multipurpose building within the Taoyuan Aerotropolis. Expected to be completed in 2029, the facility will train pilots, cabin crew and other frontline personnel as the airline expands its operational infrastructure.
Australia has approved Sydney Airport’s Master Plan 2045, clearing the path for a future terminal that would combine domestic, regional and international services. The plan establishes the airport’s long-term development framework and targets a more integrated passenger and operating environment by 2045.
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