SpaceNews.com
• Jeff Foust
A series of launches and deployment milestones highlights continued demand for space-based Earth observation: China sent two hyperspectral satellites into orbit from a sea platform, Rocket Lab deployed Japanese SAR spacecraft, Synspective released first imagery from its ninth satellite, and Russia activated an Elektro-L weather satellite.
Asia-Pacific (APAC)
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Finland and Sweden sent delegations to Australia’s Exercise Pitch Black for the first time this year, with both focused on fighter integration and maintenance. Their participation adds a new dimension to the multinational exercise’s role in developing operational coordination and sustainment practices.
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A series of launches and deployment milestones highlights continued demand for space-based Earth observation: China sent two hyperspectral satellites into orbit from a sea platform, Rocket Lab deployed Japanese SAR spacecraft, Synspective released first imagery from its ninth satellite, and Russia activated an Elektro-L weather satellite.
High activity
EVA Air will begin nonstop flights between Delhi and Taipei on Dec. 1, 2026, operating the route five times weekly with Airbus A330-300 aircraft. The service will provide new India–Taiwan connectivity and an alternative transit option for passengers traveling between India and North America.
Qantas Group and Japan Airlines have signed a binding agreement to restructure Jetstar Japan’s ownership, with the Development Bank of Japan replacing Qantas through a share buyback. The low-cost carrier plans to rebrand by the third quarter of 2027, ending Qantas’ role in the Japanese venture.
United Parcel Service has asked the U.S. Department of Transportation to approve the transfer of six weekly fifth-freedom cargo frequencies linking Hong Kong International Airport with Clark International Airport in Angeles City, potentially reshaping UPS’s regulatory authority and operating pattern on the Asia-Pacific route.
IndiGo and Ethiopian Airlines have emerged as two of the Global South’s most consequential carriers, but their rise followed sharply different models. Their contrasting strategies offer a useful lens on how airlines outside traditional aviation centers are reshaping the industry’s competitive landscape.
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Cathay Pacific posted its strongest first-half performance since 2010, with passenger and cargo growth offsetting higher fuel costs, while Lufthansa’s operating profit fell to €383 million and Air Astana slipped into a small loss. Carriers remain cautious as Middle East-related fuel price pressures persist.
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