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Latest news, in-depth features and opinion on aviation, with a particular focus on the industry in Hong Kong, mainland China and Asia.
A drone flies over the Khumbu Icefall on the Nepali side of Mount Everest in April last year. Photo: Xinhua
Low-altitude economy

China’s ‘black flying’ drone dilemma: when tech clashes with aviation safety

Videos posted online have shown drones climbing above 8,000 metres, dangerously close to passenger aircraft.

United States

US government admits liability in fatal Washington helicopter-plane crash

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Cathay Pacific

Hong Kong’s Cathay Pacific investigates wrong taxiway use at Manila airport

Hong Kong economy

Hong Kong to become Asia’s leading aircraft recycling hub, John Lee vows

City leader says opening of Aircraft Engineering Training Centre is ‘major step’, adds hub will create ‘better-paid and high-skill jobs’.

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The training centre’s inaugural programme will cover cabin integration, with courses on aircraft wiring fitting, system mechanics and quality inspection to be introduced in the second half of 2026. Photo: Jonathan Wong
China-Japan relations

Chinese tourist arrivals to Japan lose momentum amid tensions: official data

Mainland visitor numbers rose just 3% in November after flight cuts and travel warnings took effect as diplomatic strains escalated.

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China's military weapons

China’s latest stealth endurance drone, CH-7, completes maiden flight

Designer says UAV can quickly penetrate target areas for reconnaissance and rely on stealth to send information from battle front lines.

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Mainland China

China-led Asia-Pacific lifts global aviation outlook as profits set to soar

Passenger demand from China and India, eased visa rules and freight resilience drive growth as IATA forecasts record airline profits in 2026.

China and India will lead regional growth, fuelled by a rebound in tourism and the expanding middle classes, says IATA. Photo: Xinhua
European Union

Belarus agrees to stop balloon flights into Lithuania amid hybrid attack fears

The incidents have caused over a dozen closures of Vilnius airport in recent months, prompting Lithuania to declare a state of emergency.

China consumption

‘A violation’? China’s airlines in the hot seat over hidden extra fees

Seat selection fees are becoming more common in China as airlines grapple with squeezed profit margins, but consumers are pushing back.

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China's military weapons

China’s drone carrier Jiu Tian takes flight to signal PLA swarm capacity boost

Xinhua hails ‘breakthrough in China’s large drone technology’, says Jiu Tian could also be deployed in wide range of civilian applications.

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China says its Jiu Tian aerial “drone carrier” has completed its maiden flight in the western province of Shaanxi, described as a “breakthrough” by state media. Photo: Weibo/人民日报
Cathay Pacific

Hong Kong police arrest man over trying to open plane door on Cathay flight

Police officers board aircraft after it safely landed at Hong Kong airport, arrest man for allegedly violating Aviation Security Ordinance.

Cathay has said no crew members or passengers were injured in the incident. Photo: Sam Tsang
India

IndiGo flight chaos exposes risks of India’s aviation duopoly

India’s largest airline grounded nearly 3,000 flights last week, showing how easily a staffing crunch at one carrier can paralyse the sector.

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Russia

Crew killed in Russian military plane crash during test flight

State media reported seven people were on board at the time of the crash.

Hong Kong economy

Hong Kong signs aviation deals with 7 countries to expand global reach

Transport chief Mable Chan says deals reached with mostly Latin American nations, while Airport Authority CEO calls for more investment to manage risks.

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Hong Kong International Airport. The Airport Authority’s CEO has pointed to continuous investment as a way to mitigate risks in an uncertain business environment. Photo: Jonathan Wong
Science

Chinese team reports way to extract hypersonic weapon fuel boron from seawater

Inspired by ‘novel sustainable technology’ research, the team designs a single, powerful system using solar energy for extraction.

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Scramjet engines are among the technologies requiring boron. Chinese scientists say they have developed a method to extract boron from seawater. Photo: Getty Images
Britain

UK police probe Heathrow pepper spray attack linked to suitcase robbery

Chaotic chain of events caused several hours of delays for passengers trying to get to and from the airport.

India

India regulator faults airline CEO amid severe disruption

IndiGo CEO Pieter Elbers has been ordered to explain the cancellations that affected almost half of its flights.

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India

India caps airfares as IndiGo crisis hits 5th day, stranding hundreds

IndiGo’s spate of cancellations has prompted fare increases on flights operated by other airlines on popular routes.

Travellers look at updates on flights, as they stand next to a screen displaying details of cancelled IndiGo airlines flights, at Kempegowda International Airport in Bengaluru, India, on Saturday. Photo: Reuters
China airliners

A Chinese home-grown business jet is on the way. Will it rival Gulfstream?

China’s state-owned aircraft maker is stepping up efforts to break into the business jet market with its CBJ model.

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Timepieces

6 lush coffee table books to gift the watch lover in your life

These tomes tell of timepieces owned by powerful women like Elizabeth Taylor and hip-hop stars such as Busta Rhymes, to iconic pilot watches from the Cartier Santos to the Omega Speedmaster.

India

Video | Travel chaos in India after over 1,200 flights cancelled

IndiGo attributed the chaos to a combination of operational and weather-related challenges.

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Photo: SCMP
Middle East

Opinion | Why Gulf region’s dreams of aviation domination are built on sand

While Abu Dhabi, Dubai and Istanbul’s plans are already aggressively ambitious, Saudi Arabia’s extravagant vision seems like something from fantasyland.

A plane prepares for take-off at King Khalid International Airport in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, on March 05, 2023.
India

‘Complete mayhem’: chaos after India’s largest airline cancels 1,200 flights

IndiGo blamed the disruption on ‘unforeseen operational challenges’ including technical glitches, adverse weather and new rules for workers.

Indonesia

‘We side with Indonesia’: ex-minister rejects claims of China bias

Luhut Pandjaitan says China’s technological prowess and deep pockets made it an ideal partner for propelling Indonesia’s economy.

Malaysia

Search for Malaysia’s MH370 resumes in Indian Ocean after more than a decade

US-based Ocean Infinity confirmed it would recommence intermittent seabed search operations for 55 days from December 30.

A man walks past a mural representing the missing flight MH370 in August 2015. Photo: AFP
India

Air India probed for flying plane without valid safety certificate

India’s aviation regulator said it was investigating the carrier after it operated eight flights without a valid airworthiness certificate.

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An Air India Airbus A320 aircraft approaching Tribhuvan International Airport in Kathmandu, Nepal. Photo: Getty Images
China travel

1,900 China-Japan flights cancelled in December as political row continues

Airlines have now scrapped over 40 per cent of their China-Japan flights scheduled for this month amid a diplomatic spat over Taiwan.

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AirAsia

AirAsia boss says ‘bizarre’ Airbus glitch a ‘good warning’ to industry

Tony Fernandes urged planemakers to test software properly and not to ‘rush’ amid the pressure to meet delivery and revenue targets.

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