Bilqis Bahari
Aviation journalist covering commercial aviation and rotorcraft; on-the-ground show coverage and news explainers.
Emirates Enters FY2026 Strong Amid Middle East Tensions
Emirates Group says it is entering FY2026/27 from a position of strength despite ongoing geopolitical tensions and volatility in the Middle East. Chairman and Chief Executive of Emirates airline and Group, Sheikh Ahmed bin Saeed Al Maktoum said the group remains financially resilient with strong cash reserves and fuel hedging secured until 2028/29. “Right now, military activities between the US, Israel and Iran are paused under a ceasefire agreement. ⬇️
Tony Fernandes Heads to Canada to Seal A220 Deal
NSTExclusive: AirAsia co-founder Tony Fernandes is believed to be travelling to Canada today to formalise a potential landmark aircraft order with Airbus as the budget carrier moves closer to buy up to 150 A220 aircraft. Business Times has learned that...
BMM Adds Third Subang Hangar to Serve Third‑party Airlines
NSTExclusive: Base Maintenance Malaysia (BMM), a subsidiary of Singapore’s SIA Engineering Company, is adding a third hangar in Subang as it prepares to undertake third-party airline MRO work. Currently, it services Singapore Airlines aircraft, mainly A350s, and will expand to...
Stay at Manila Hotel with Direct Runway Views
Ever stayed somewhere where your room view is literally a runway? This is Belmont Hotel Manila and you can watch planes take off and land right from your window. If you’re flying in or out of Ninoy Aquino International Airport, this...
Budget Airlines Face Collapse as Fuel Costs Surge
First airline to cease operations as a result of the Middle Eastern crisis is U.S. budget carrier Spirit Airlines. A few airline CEOs I spoke to recently said the situation is tougher for budget carriers given their thin margins. They have...
Malaysia Airlines Restarts Limited Doha Flights July 2
Malaysia Airlines will resume limited services to Doha from July 2, 2026 with one daily flight from Kuala Lumpur. The national carrier said its other flights to Doha will remain suspended until Oct 24, 2026, subject to ongoing review. Malaysia Airlines suspended...
IndiGo Restarts Doha Service with 60+ Weekly Flights
IndiGo will resume flights to Doha from May 1, 2026, after temporarily suspending services to the Middle East due to regional airspace closures. The airline will reinstate its regular schedule of over 60 weekly flights to Doha from seven cities —...
SCAT Adds Five 737‑9s, Boosts Capacity for Expansion
Kazakhstan’s SCAT Airlines has added five more Boeing 737-9 aircraft to support its expansion into more Asian and European destinations. SCAT has also converted five 737-8s from a 2023 order to the 737-9 variant. JSC SCAT Airlines president Vladimir Denissov said the...
STARLUX A350-1000 Sets New Standard for Luxury Travel
STARLUX’s A350-1000 truly defines luxury, from its four-cabin configuration to the attention to detail in each cabin, including ergonomics, amenities and even the cabin colour palette, all designed with passenger comfort in mind. Have you flown STARLUX’s A350-1000?
Watch World Cup Live On Singapore Airlines Flights
Passengers flying with Singapore Airlines during the FIFA World Cup 2026 can watch matches live in-flight via Sport 24 on KrisWorld Live TV from June 11 to July 19. The service is available on all of SIA’s Boeing 787-10 and...
Tony Fernandes Sets June 26 KL‑Bahrain Launch, War‑Dependent
AirAsia X’s founder Tan Sri Tony Fernandes confirms June 26 take-off for KL-Bahrain flights while AirAsia X’s group CEO Bo Lingam said the plan is still on if the Middle Eastern war ends before launch date. Checks by Business Times...
AirAsia X Holds Course Amid War, Fuel Surge
Key takeaways from AirAsia X PC: • Bahrain is still on, will fly on June 26 if war ends by then • No jet fuel shortage ATM. Able to uplift fuel from KUL to destination. • Not letting go of...
AirAsia Confirms Bahrain Launch, First Flight June 2026
AirAsia is still committed to fly to Bahrain with first flight on June 26, 2026: Tan Sri Tony Fernandes.
MAG Adds Two Routes, Resumes Fukuoka with B737‑8
MAG Update: 2 new destinations + 1 resumption to Fukuoka all will be operated by Malaysia Airlines using its B737-8 aircraft from July-September. MAG President & CEO Captain Nasaruddin said depending on the demand to Fukuoka and timely delivery of...
Malaysia Aviation Adds Shenzhen, Changsha, Fukuoka Routes
Malaysia Aviation Group just announced 3 destinations today: Shenzhen, Changsha and Fukuoka More info to follow.
Batik Air Trims Capacity 35% Amid Fuel Price Spike
Batik Air Malaysia has temporarily cut its capacity by 35 per cent until April 12 as part of a short-term capacity management strategy amid fuel price volatility and global economic uncertainty, the airline’s CEO tells me when contacted today. Read...
MAG Locks Jet Fuel Costs Amid 140% Price Surge
Now we know MAG has hedged their jet fuel between US$60-US$80 per barrel for 2026. With the price of jet fuel going up 140% one can only wonder what is happening to airlines that didn’t hedge their jet fuel. Do...
First Article on Falcon 10X Graces RAeS Cover
My article on the Dassault Falcon 10X is on the front page of the Royal Aeronautical Society’s (RAeS) Aerospace magazine, April issue. If you don’t know, the RAeS is the oldest and one of the most authoritative aerospace institutions in the...
Batik Air Malaysia Restarts KL‑Colombo Flights After Two‑Year Pause
Batik Air Malaysia has resumed its Kuala Lumpur–Colombo service from March 30, 2026, after nearly a two-year suspension, marking another step in rebuilding its international network as travel demand recovers. The airline said in a statement that the route will...
Hari Raya Outbound Bookings Surge 49% Among Malaysians
Malaysians travelled more this Hari Raya, with outbound flight bookings rising 49% year-on-year, according to Trip.com Group. China, Singapore and Indonesia remained the top three destinations, followed by Thailand and Vietnam, showing Malaysians’ continued preference for regional travel during the...
AirBorneo to Wet‑Lease Three Boeing 737‑800s
NSTExclusive: Sarawak’s new airline AirBorneo is believed to be wet leasing three Boeing B737-800 jets from ACMI operator, Ascend Airways Malaysia. Read more ⬇️ Disclaimer: Pix is an ATR given that AirBorneo hasn’t gotten the narrowbody jets with its livery as...
Air Astana Hits $1.45 B Revenue on Expansion
Air Astana Posts US$1.45bil Revenue in 2025 as International Expansion Gains Pace. Kazakhstan’s flag carrier grew revenue and capacity in 2025 via expansion, partnerships and fleet investment before 2026 tensions shifted traffic flows. Read more ⬇️ https://open.substack.com/pub/bbaviation/p/air-astana-posts-us145bil-revenue?r=3ug267&utm_medium=ios
SIA Launches A380 Service on Singapore‑Melbourne Route 2026
Singapore Airlines (SIA) will operate its Airbus A380 on Singapore–Melbourne flights from March 29 to October 24, 2026, replacing the Boeing 777-300ER on this service. SIA’s A380 aircraft are configured with 471 seats, comprising six Suites, 78 in Business Class, 44...
SIA Boosts London Gatwick Service to Daily Flights
Singapore Airlines (SIA) has extended the suspension of its Singapore-Dubai flights to April 30, 2026 and will add more flights to London Gatwick from 3x weekly (March 31-July 02) to daily flights (July 3-Aug 29). The flights will revert back...
Airlines Slash Thousands of Flights Over Rising Fuel Costs
Scandinavian Airline SAS would cancel 1000 flights in April due to high oil prices, CEO Anko van der Werff told Swedish media Dagens Industri. The airline has already cancelled a few hundred flights in March mostly domestic routes in Norway...
Cathay Pacific Extends Dubai, Riyadh Flight Suspension to April 2026
JUST IN: Cathay Pacific cancels passenger and cargo flights to Dubai and Riyadh until April 30, 2026 due to the volatile situation in the Middle East. Initially, the suspension of operations to these two destination was until March 30, 2026....
Asian Airlines Hike Fuel Surcharges as Prices Surge
Malaysia Airlines and Firefly rolled out fuel surcharges in phases from March 11 and March 25, while Batik Air Malaysia and AirAsia X have followed. Across Asia, carriers such as Cathay Pacific and IndiGo are taking similar steps, although Air...
E195‑E2 Eliminates Middle Seats with Roomy 2‑2 Layout
No middle seats on this aircraft. The Embraer E195-E2 gives you either a window or an aisle — that’s it. No middle seat drama. With a comfortable 2-2 layout, PW1900G geared turbofan engines and up to 5,500km range, this “small” jet quietly...
Malaysia Airlines Extends Doha Suspension Through March 2026
Malaysia Airlines has extended the temporary suspension of its Doha flights until 20 March 2026 due to continued security developments in the region. The route was initially suspended from 28 Feb due to airspace closures. The airline said it is...
Cathay Rewards Staff with 11‑week Bonuses After $1.38B Profit
Cathay Group’s employees will receive over 11 weeks of bonuses & a salary increase this year after the group reported a full-year 2025 profit of US$1.38 billion (HK$10.8 billion) driven by higher capacity, load factors & strong cargo demand.
IndiGo CEO Pieter Elbers Resigns; Interim Leadership Appointed
IndiGo’s CEO Pieter Elbers has stepped down with immediate effect the airline said without giving a reason for his departure. The carrier said in a statement today that managing director Rahul Bhatia will oversee the airline’s operations on an interim basis...
AirBorneo Orders 8 ATR Turboprops, Boosting Rural Connectivity
NSTExclusive: AirBorneo’s order for 8 ATR 600-series turboprops signals renewed momentum for Malaysia’s regional aviation sector, particularly in strengthening rural air connectivity across East Malaysia. ATR senior vice president commercial Alexis Vidal said the deal reflects the manufacturer’s core mission of...
Qatar Airways Launches Limited Feeder Flights to Doha
From 8 March Qatar Airways will operate limited flights to London Heathrow, Paris CDG, Madrid, Rome, Frankfurt and Bangkok. These flights are ONLY for passengers whose final destination is Doha, the airline said in a statement.
AMAL Resumes Jeddah, Madinah Flights March
Malaysia Aviation Group (MAG) said AMAL by Malaysia Airlines will resume flights to Jeddah and Madinah from Kuala Lumpur starting 8 March 2026 following a brief period of limited flights due to the closure of Middle East airspace. Flights to...
Singapore Airlines Suspends Singapore‑Dubai Flights Until 2026
Singapore Airlines has cancelled all flights to and from Singapore-Dubai until 15 March 2026 due to the geopolitical situation in the Middle East.
Boeing 777X Promises Wider Cabin, Larger Windows for Comfort
The Boeing 777X will be Boeing’s next-generation flagship widebody. Its cabin introduces larger windows, a wider interior and redesigned overhead bins designed to improve passenger comfort on long-haul flights. Would you choose the 777X for your next long-haul journey?
Lufthansa Launches Direct Frankfurt‑Kuala Lumpur Service 2026
Lufthansa Airlines will start flying direct 5x weekly Frankfurt-Kuala Lumpur from 25 October 2026. The flight will be operated by its B787-9 with 287 seats in a 3-class configured Alleris cabin. Lufthansa said Kuala Lumpur is the fourth destination for the...
Cathay Pacific Suspends Dubai, Riyadh Flights, Waives Fees
Cathay Pacific has cancelled Dubai and Riyadh flight services until 14 March. Customers who have booked to travel between Hong Kong - Dubai and Riyadh up to 14 March may rebook, reroute or refund their tickets without the usual fees...
AirAsia Launches 4‑weekly KL‑Wuhan Flights, RM399 Fares
AirAsia (AK) will start flying 4x weekly Kuala Lumpur-Wuhan from 22 May 2026. The airline is currently offering promotional all-in one-way fares from RM399 for KL-Wuhan flights for travel between 22 May - 24 Oct 2026. The promotion is available from...
Batik Air Cancels Dubai Flight Amid Middle East Airspace Closure
Batik Air Malaysia has cancelled today’s flight to Dubai from KL due to the closure of airspace in the Middle East. The airline said in a statement that it continues to monitor the situation in the region. Passengers travelling on...
Qatar Airways Halts Flights Until Airspace Reopens
Qatar Airways said its flight operations remain temporarily suspended due to the closure of the Qatari airspace. The airline added that it will resume operations once the Qatar Civil Aviation Authority announces the safe reopening of the country’s airspace.
Check Flight Status Amid Middle East Airspace Restrictions
Malaysia Airports Holdings Bhd (MAHB) has adviced passengers travelling to, from, or transiting to through parts of the Middle East to check their flight status directly with their respective airlines before going to the airport. The airport operator said airspace...
Malaysia Airlines Cancels Middle East Flights, Reroutes Europe Routes
Malaysia Airlines has announced that its flights to and from Doha, Jeddah and Madinah have been cancelled from 28 Feb - 1 March due to the closure of airspace in parts of the Middle East. Flights from KL to London &...
ExecuJet Haite Gains Multi‑Authority Certification for G700 Maintenance
ExecuJet Haite Aviation Services China Co., Ltd (ExecuJet Haite) has secured certifications from the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), Qatar Civil Aviation Authority (QCAA) and Civil Aviation Authority of Vietnam (CAAV) to perform line and heavy maintenance on the Gulfstream G700. The...
Flydubai Posts $531m Profit, Hits Record Passengers
flydubai posts US$531m profit after tax for FY2025, reinforcing the momentum behind its expanding network strategy. The Dubai-based carrier reported US$591m pre-tax profit on revenues of US$3.7b, up 6% year-on-year. A record 15.7 million passengers flew with the airline, with Business...
Embraer Targets India's Regional Jet, Defense, Manufacturing Push
India’s aviation expansion is often defined by large narrowbody aircraft orders. But Embraer is strengthening its India strategy in a different segment: the 80–146 seat regional jet market while advancing defence modernisation and aerospace manufacturing localisation. The push aligns with the Government’s...
GE Aerospace Invests $300M to Boost Singapore Repair Hub
bbaviation7 had an exclusive interview with Iain Rodger, Managing Director of GE Aerospace Component Repair Singapore, where he shares how the Singapore site supports GE Aerospace’s global MRO network and the engine components repaired here. We also talk about GE Aerospace’s...
Airbus Aims 870 Deliveries in 2026, up From 793
Airbus delivered 793 commercial aircraft in 2025, up from 766 in 2024, led by A320 Family and A220 deliveries. For 2026, Airbus is targeting around 870 commercial aircraft deliveries, subject to operational and supply chain conditions. Source: Airbus 2025 full-year results press...
Flyadeal Adds 34th A320neo, Fleet Hits 45 Aircraft
Saudi Arabia’s low-cost carrier, flyadeal has taken delivery of its first aircraft of 2026, an A320neo, increasing its all narrowbody fleet to 45 aircraft. The jet, delivered to Jeddah from Airbus’ Toulouse facility, is the airline’s 34th A320neo. It has been...
Air Astana Names Former Wizz Air Exec as FlyArystan President
Air Astana has appointed Johan Eidhagen as President of FlyArystan, effective March 1, 2026. Eidhagen joins from Wizz Air, where he most recently served as Managing Director of Wizz Air Abu Dhabi and previously held senior roles including Chief People &...