A trusted source of Asia-Pacific commercial aviation news and analysis


FEBRUARY 2026

Week 8

Orient Aviation Daily Digest February 18, 2026

By Ryan Chase

 

News

Air India, Lufthansa Group propose business agreement

Air India and Lufthansa Group have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to establish a joint business agreement covering, in the initial phase, flights between India and Austria, Belgium, Germany, Italy and Switzerland. Read More »


 


 

News

Australia’s domestic economy fares on the rise this month

Australia’s domestic passengers travelling in the economy cabin are facing higher airfares this month compared with a year earlier, local data reveals. Read More »


 


 

News

Air New Zealand concludes four-month trial of battery powered demonstrator

Air New Zealand (Air NZ) has flown about 100 flights recording 13,000 kilometres of distance in its four month trial of the ALIA CX300 battery-powered electric aircraft in partnership with BETA Technologies. Read More »


 

News

Jetstar posts 9% passenger increase on trans-Tasman routes for 2025

Australia-headquartered Jetstar Airways has announced passenger numbers on its Australia and New Zealand rose 9%, to "more than 700,000 travelers" in 2025, compared with 2024. Read More »


 

News

Thai AirAsia posts double-digit jump in load factor to China for Lunar New Year

Thai AirAsia head of commercial, Tansita Akrarittipirom, said the LCC’s passenger load factor during this year’s busy Lunar New Year holiday was averaging about 95%, up 15 percentage points from 80% in the 2025 Lunar New Year season. Read More »


 

News

Melbourne Airport’s passenger numbers decline January

Tullamarine Melbourne Airport reported 3.38 million passengers travelled through its four terminals in January, down half a percentage point from 3.39 million in the same month in 2025. Read More »


 

People

Veteran aviation executive Alan Milne is returning to Air Niugini for a second stint as the airline’s CEO. Read More »


 

Asia-Pacific Aerospace Briefs Today

Today’s briefs report news from Air Lease. Read More »