Asia-Pacific Aerospace Briefs Today
November 19th 2025
Today’s briefs report news from Amadeus, DHL Express, Drukair, Malaysia Airlines, Phillips 66 and SITA. The briefs also include news from the Dubai Airshow overnight. Read More »
Malaysia Airlines has added new features to its app and website, including a digital passport and visa verification tool, one-click booking option for returning customers, the addition of Apple Pay as a payment method, real-time flight notifications via the app and an online chatbot, Mavis. Customers can also redeem flights across the oneworld alliance website and checkin for oneworld-operated flights on the Malaysia Airlines website. "Digital transformation is central to MAG’s strategy to deliver a modern, seamless travel experience," said the chief digital and IT officer of Malaysia Airlines’ parent, Malaysia Aviation Group, Clarence Lee. "We are investing in technologies that simplify every touchpoint - from booking to post-travel - ensuring convenience, personalisation, and greater operational efficiency as a digitally empowered aviation group."
Bhutan-headquartered Drukair has signed a global distribution agreement with Amadeus. "Through this collaboration, Drukair’s fares, schedules, and inventory will be accessible on the Amadeus Travel Platform, reaching travel agencies worldwide," Amadeus said. It is Drukair’s first global distribution agreement.
DHL Express has signed an agreement with Phillips 66 for the supply of 240,000 tonnes of sustainable aviation fuel over three years to be delivered at Los Angeles International Airport and potentially other airports along the U.S. west coast.
SITA and the air navigation service provider for France, DSNA, have reported positive results from a trial of real-time weather tools such as the Enhanced Weather Awareness System (eWAS) and Mission Watch, at an air traffic control tower in Reims. The tools gave air traffic controllers access to the same live data already used by pilots and airline dispatchers. The pair said flow managers were able to anticipate weather shifts more precisely, which helped reduce delays by up to 65%.
In news from the Dubai Airshow overnight:
Spain-headquartered Air Europa signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) with Airbus for up to 40 A350-900 aircraft.
Air Senegal signed a commitment to order nine 737 MAX 8 aircraft from Boeing.
Emirates Airline announced it will upgrade 60 A380s and 51 777s with its latest cabin products in a retrofit program starting in August next year, including a new onboard lounge on the A380 and the latest Panasonic inflight entertainment system across both fleet types. Emirates is also installing Starlink-powered wifi across its fleet.
Still with Emirates, the airline and Safran signed a memorandum of understanding to build a manufacturing and seat assembly facility in Dubai, with construction of the 20,000 square metre to 25,000 square metre site expected to be completed by the end of 2027.
Ethiopian Airlines signed a firm order for six A350-900s with Airbus.
Etihad Airways signed a firm order for six A330-900s, seven A350-1000s and three A350F freighters with Airbus. The Abu Dhabi-headquartered carrier also signed a lease agreement for nine A330-900s and for A320neo family aircraft with Avolon.
South Africa-based FlySafair signed lease agreements with AerCap for three 737 MAX 8s and two 737-800s for delivery in 2028 and 2026, respectively,
LCC flydubai signed a memorandum of understanding with Airbus for 150 A321neo aircraft. The airline currently flies an all-Boeing fleet of 737 family aircraft.
Gulf Air firmed up an order for 15 787s, with options for a further three aircraft, with Boeing. The firm order lifts Gulf Air’s total 787 order book to 17 airplanes.
