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• Dirk Andrei Salcedo
Philippine Airlines swung from a $136.7 million first-half 2025 profit to a $25.1 million loss in 2026 as fuel costs rose amid the Middle East conflict. Pegasus also reported a loss amid weaker international traffic, while winning Turkish approval to acquire Smartwings.
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Philippine Airlines swung from a $136.7 million first-half 2025 profit to a $25.1 million loss in 2026 as fuel costs rose amid the Middle East conflict. Pegasus also reported a loss amid weaker international traffic, while winning Turkish approval to acquire Smartwings.
New Zealand’s security agency said it disrupted an attempt by a Chinese state-linked observatory to establish satellite-tracking infrastructure in the country. The case, highlighted in the agency’s annual assessment, underscores growing concern over foreign espionage activity and the strategic value of space-monitoring sites.
Starlink has excluded Poland from a 30-country roaming zone without explaining why, reviving tensions between Warsaw and Elon Musk. The decision carries added sensitivity because Ukraine relies on more than 50,000 Starlink terminals for its defense, most of them financed by Poland.
TUI Group reported lower revenue and profitability in its latest quarter as the Iran conflict affected customer behavior, raised fuel-cost pressure and left cruise ships stranded. The German travel group said airline and broader summer booking trends remained resilient, offering some offset to the disruption.
Latvia is assessing Embraer’s A-29 Super Tucano as a light combat aircraft for intercepting incoming unmanned aerial vehicles. The evaluation would give the Latvian Air Force a national armed fixed-wing capability, with the turboprop considered primarily for short-range counter-drone missions rather than its traditional light-attack role.
SunExpress chief executive Marcus Schnabel is seeking to build on the carrier’s established foundations as the initial market effects of the Iran conflict ease. Schnabel is emphasizing flexibility while positioning the airline for sustainable growth amid a changing operating environment.
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DNA recovered from an explosive drone that struck an Antonov An-124 at Leipzig/Halle reportedly matches evidence from the 2024 DHL incendiary parcel plot. The finding could connect an attack on an aircraft at a major European cargo hub with a broader suspected GRU-linked campaign.
Satellite imagery indicates China may be increasing the number of missile cells available to store and fire weapons aboard its most advanced frigate model. The development highlights the world’s largest navy’s continuing effort to expand shipborne firepower and narrow its capability gap with the U.S.
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