Skift
• Gordon Smith
Korean Air is expanding its maintenance, repair and overhaul capabilities and pursuing third-party work as it nears completion of its Asiana Airlines integration. Separately, Jin Air, Air Busan and Air Seoul are merging to create South Korea’s largest low-cost carrier, consolidating the country’s airline sector.
Asia-Pacific (APAC)
Latest source-backed stories
Korean Air is expanding its maintenance, repair and overhaul capabilities and pursuing third-party work as it nears completion of its Asiana Airlines integration. Separately, Jin Air, Air Busan and Air Seoul are merging to create South Korea’s largest low-cost carrier, consolidating the country’s airline sector.
High activity
ICEYE has formally established ICEYE India in New Delhi, expanding its presence in one of the world’s largest defense and space markets. The Finnish satellite operator plans to support Indian agencies with sovereign synthetic-aperture radar intelligence while developing domestic production capacity for radar satellites serving defense customers.
IndiGo will begin biweekly nonstop service between Gaya, Bihar, and Bangkok on Oct. 26, 2026, targeting Buddhist pilgrims visiting one of the faith’s most sacred sites. The route will expand air connectivity between India and Thailand while supporting tourism and cultural ties.
An Indonesian Air Force Su-30MK2 overran the runway at Sultan Hasanuddin International Airport in South Sulawesi during a post-overhaul test, reportedly after a braking-system failure. The military crew escaped injury, and the incident did not disrupt commercial flight operations at the airport.
All Nippon Airways is introducing remotely controlled “newme” robots to answer passenger questions at Japanese regional airports with limited staffing. The deployment reflects how airlines are using telepresence and automation to maintain customer-service coverage as Japan’s workforce shrinks, without requiring permanent personnel at every station.
Indonesia has intensified ground and aerial firefighting across four provinces as drought and a prolonged dry season fuel fires in forests and peatlands, sending haze into Malaysia. Malaysia is preparing cloud-seeding operations near shared borders, while Indonesia plans to open airspace to support the effort.
Air Cambodia is scheduled to receive its first two C909 regional jets in November 2026, according to the Khmer Times. The Phnom Penh-based carrier has firmly ordered 10 aircraft, with the remaining eight deliveries planned through 2029, marking a significant expansion of its regional fleet.
High activity
Higher kerosene prices and weaker local currencies pushed AirAsia and Cebu Pacific into net losses, while Scoot’s operating loss nearly doubled. Southeast Asia’s low-cost carriers expect a difficult second half, even as Indian international traffic improves and domestic demand remains subdued amid rising fuel costs.
Create a free account to see more recent Asia-Pacific (APAC) stories and keep bookmarks in one place.
