Bloomberg
• Patpicha Tanakasempipat, Satid Sutipanya
Thai Airways International dismissed Chief Executive Officer Chai Eamsiri with immediate effect after severe flooding disrupted its Bangkok operations, causing widespread flight delays, baggage backlogs and ground-handling problems. The leadership change follows an acute operational breakdown at Thailand’s flag carrier.
Asia-Pacific (APAC)
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Thai Airways International dismissed Chief Executive Officer Chai Eamsiri with immediate effect after severe flooding disrupted its Bangkok operations, causing widespread flight delays, baggage backlogs and ground-handling problems. The leadership change follows an acute operational breakdown at Thailand’s flag carrier.
New satellite imagery shows China’s construction of a runway on Antelope Reef in the disputed Paracel Islands gathering pace. Analysts estimate the facility could be completed by mid-2027, potentially strengthening Beijing’s military control and operational reach in the South China Sea.
Embraer and Mahindra have selected Nagpur, Maharashtra, as the proposed site for a C-390 Millennium final assembly line if India chooses the aircraft for its Medium Transport Aircraft program. The Brazilian jet is competing against Lockheed Martin’s C-130J in the Indian Air Force tender.
The Pentagon said the United States will transfer three King Air turboprop aircraft configured for maritime domain awareness to the Philippine Coast Guard. The planned handover expands the coast guard’s dedicated airborne surveillance capacity, though the announcement did not provide details on timing, aircraft variants or support arrangements.
Mongolia is considering COMAC C919s as part of the fleet renewal of its national airline, MIAT. The interest would give the Chinese narrowbody a potential foothold in Mongolia and add another prospective customer as COMAC seeks to expand the aircraft’s international presence.
High activity
Rocket Lab has signed a 20-mission Electron launch agreement with Japanese radar satellite company Synspective, calling it the rocket’s largest commercial contract to date. The deal extends a longstanding customer relationship and provides Synspective with dedicated launch capacity for its satellite program.
Air New Zealand will add more than 7,000 seats between Shanghai Pudong and Auckland during the 2027 Chinese New Year period, targeting one of the busiest travel seasons for Chinese visitors to New Zealand. The increase expands capacity on a key Asia-Pacific market for the national carrier.
Satellite imagery shows China developing a military support center on former farmland in Laos over the past year. Analysts say the facility could deepen Beijing’s operational presence in Southeast Asia and broaden its regional access beyond established Chinese military installations.
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