Asia-Pacific Aerospace Briefs Today
December 12th 2025
Today’s briefs report news from AirBorneo, Airbus, Boeing, Civil Aviation Authority of Malaysia, Johor Bahru Airport, Safran, Thales and United Airlines. Read More »
Malaysia-headquartered regional carrier, AirBorneo, has unveiled a new website and call centre ahead of its formal takeover of Malaysia Aviation Group carrier MASWings next January 1. It has commenced ticket sales for flights under its own name for travel on or after January 14, 2026.
Airbus has signed a general terms of agreement with China’s government to pave the way for deliveries to commence of 120 aircraft ordered by Mainland China airlines, local media reports citing an Airbus spokesperson.
Still with Airbus, the company’s fello’fly project to evaluate the fuel efficiency benefits of "wake energy retrieval" through pairing flights to reduce fuel consumption, has successfully completed a "rendezvous process" bringing two flights together at a precise time and place while maintaining full vertical separation and remaining compliant with air traffic regulations. The rendezvous process trial involved airlines Air France, Delta Air Lines, French bee and Virgin Atlantic and operations partners AirNav Ireland, DSNA, EUROCONTROL and NATS.
Boeing and United Airlines have conducted digital communications testing on a 737 MAX 8 as part of the Boeing ecoDemonstrator Explorer program being conducted in partnership with Collins Aerospace, Honeywell, SITA, Thales, Viasat, the European Space Agency (ESA), U.S. Federal Aviation Administration, the NASA Air Traffic Management eXploration Project and Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University. "Our collaboration with United Airlines and the industry team is a pivotal step towards improving the reliability and speed of communications between the flight deck and air traffic control to enable safer, more efficient flight for the flying public," Boeing chief technology officer, Todd Citron, said.
The Civil Aviation Authority of Malaysia has selected Thales to upgrade the radar station at Johor Bahru Airport. Still with Thales, the Civil Aviation Authority of the Philippines has contracted the company to upgrade the country’s air traffic management system, including new software functionalities, modern hardware architecture and advanced cybersecurity capabilities.
Safran has opened a manufacturing and maintenance facility for aerospace electrical systems at Seletar Aerospace Park in Singapore. It also has agreed to sell its Safran Passenger Innovations business, which develops in-flight entertainment and connectivity products, to Kingswood Capital Management for an undisclosed sum.
