Bloomberg
• Patpicha Tanakasempipat, Satid Sutipanya
Thai Airways’ board removed CEO Chai Eamsiri after severe Bangkok flooding triggered major flight and baggage disruptions at Suvarnabhumi Airport, leaving thousands of bags stranded and prompting government pressure. Samrit Samniang has been appointed acting chief, while Eamsiri said he was not given a clear explanation for his dismissal.
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Japan’s air force has started recovery operations for a U.S.-made Global Hawk surveillance drone that crashed into the sea last month. The operation underscores the continuing operational and investigative implications of incidents involving high-value unmanned military aircraft.
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Thai Airways’ board removed CEO Chai Eamsiri after severe Bangkok flooding triggered major flight and baggage disruptions at Suvarnabhumi Airport, leaving thousands of bags stranded and prompting government pressure. Samrit Samniang has been appointed acting chief, while Eamsiri said he was not given a clear explanation for his dismissal.
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.
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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.
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