Latest news with #ParisAirshow
The Standard
15-07-2025
- Business
- The Standard
Some airlines checking Boeing fuel switches after Air India crash
The logo of Boeing is seen at the 55th International Paris Airshow at Le Bourget Airport near Paris, France, June 20, 2025. REUTERS/Benoit Tessier/Pool/File Photo
New Straits Times
05-07-2025
- Business
- New Straits Times
AirAsia buys 50 Airbus A321XLR for RM51.7bil in bid to be global low-cost airline
KUALA LUMPUR: Capital A Bhd, the parent company of AirAsia Bhd, has announced a landmark order for 50 Airbus A321XLR (extra long-range) aircraft in a deal valued at RM51.7 billion (US$12.25 billion). The acquisition comes with the conversion rights for 20 more aircraft as the airline embarks on a bold step towards becoming a global low-cost network carrier. Capital A chief executive officer (CEO) Tan Sri Tony Fernandes said the order marks a significant shift for AirAsia, which will be one of the largest operators of the extra long-range A321XLR once deliveries begin in 2028 through 2032. "This order enables us to have a narrowbody fleet that can cover the world. It's really transformative. "We believe we can build the world's first low-cost narrowbody network carrier," he said in a media briefing yesterday. Fernandes signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) for the aircraft order with Airbus Commercial Aircraft CEO, Christian Scherer yesterday in Paris. The signing ceremony was witnessed by Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim. The aircraft order was a year in the making, Fernandes said, adding that it is a crucial step in AirAsia's long-term strategy to expand globally without the high-risk cost structure of widebody aircraft. He said AirAsia would evolve into a low-cost network airline akin to Qatar Airways or Emirates, except that the budget carrier will be flying more narrowbody aircraft. "Seven per cent of our passengers already connect through Kuala Lumpur or Bangkok onto another flight," Fernandes said, adding that the airline can be a network carrier. He also said that the order is a clear signal that AirAsia's post-pandemic recovery and restructuring efforts are on track. "This shows the confidence we have going forward. As I said at the Paris Airshow that we wanted to make sure we had a clear path to restructuring, a raising of capital and getting all our aircraft back into operation." "We now feel that the worst is over, and so we've got to start planning for growth; before we miss this opportunity as slots get taken up," Fernandes added. The A321XLRs, with a flying range of up to nine hours, is set to reshape AirAsia's global footprint by enabling long-haul, point-to-point routes using narrowbody jets. The aircraft will allow AirAsia to adopt a similar model to Middle Eastern carriers, using a single-stop hub approach to connect Southeast Asia to Europe and the Americas. Fernandes said AirAsia plans to build a Middle East hub to connect Asia to Europe and further aims to establish a stopover in Europe for onward connections to America. For West Coast US routes, the budget carrier is eyeing destinations such as Japan as a connecting hub. "We're hoping to launch our first European flight this year," Fernandes said, adding that the initial flights will use existing A330s until the new A321XLR arrives. "I can announce Istanbul is around the corner, as well as one destination in Western Europe and three or four Eastern European destinations," he added. The A321XLR is expected to significantly lower AirAsia's operating costs and unlock markets previously inaccessible due to range and aircraft size limitations. Compared to the 380-seat A330, the 240-seat A321XLR offers more flexible deployment and stronger yield management, Fernandes said. He projected AirAsia's fares to Europe and the U.S. to be 30 to 50 per cent cheaper than the current market averages. "Our goal is to not take anyone's market share. It's to allow people to fly to places they never dreamt of flying," Fernandes said, adding that AirAsia's network will also open opportunities for cargo. The A321XLR aircraft will also enable more frequent flights, faster turnarounds, and access to secondary cities in Asean. Fernandes said cities like Penang, Johor Bahru, and Bali could be potential launch points for long-range XLR flights. "We can start using XLR from Bali, Penang and Johor Bahru. Johor's Senai Airport will be a big play for us," he added.
Arabian Post
03-07-2025
- Business
- Arabian Post
Thales Accelerates Gulf Defence Industrial Expansion
Arabian Post Staff -Dubai French defence and technology group Thales is deepening its strategic footprint across the Gulf by advancing plans to build a radar production facility in Saudi Arabia and an AI research centre in the UAE. At the Paris Airshow, Pascale Sourisse, senior executive vice‑president of international development at Thales, confirmed discussions on expanding a joint venture with Saudi Arabian Military Industries beyond radar systems to encompass broader air‑defence and communications technologies in the kingdom. This marks a notable evolution in Gulf nations' ambition to embed themselves within global defence and technology supply chains. Saudi Arabia, the largest military spender in the Middle East in 2024 and seventh globally, logged outlays of approximately US $80.3 billion, sustained largely by strategic efforts to diversify its economy under Vision 2030. Thales's radar factory would join several localisation initiatives already in motion, including radars, missile systems and counter‑drone technologies pursued by SAMI and its partners. ADVERTISEMENT In the UAE, Thales Emarat Technologies has committed to a dedicated factory producing its Ground Master air‑surveillance radar series under a cooperation agreement with Tawazun Council, struck in May. Set to be operational by 2027, the facility will handle assembly, testing and qualification for both domestic and export markets. The UAE deal includes broader vendor integration and talent development, with plans to deepen partnerships across the supply chain and nurture Emirati experts in aerospace and defence technologies. In parallel, Thales is pursuing the establishment of a cortAIx artificial intelligence research hub in Abu Dhabi—its first in the Middle East. With existing centres in Singapore, France, Canada and the UK, the UAE facility will co‑develop AI applications within defence systems, in close collaboration with end users such as the UAE Armed Forces. Sourisse noted that the centre aims to generate actionable insights from equipment data, aligning directly with client priorities on the ground. Strategically, Gulf nations are building sovereign industrial frameworks that reduce dependency on foreign armaments and strengthen regional autonomy. Saudi aims to localise half of its military procurement by 2030, supported by SAMI's network of joint ventures with global defence firms, including Boeing, Lockheed Martin, Raytheon and Thales. Likewise, the UAE is enhancing its industrial base via Tawazun Council and EDGE Group partnerships focused on smart weapons, missiles, radar systems and electro‑optic platforms. Thales stands to benefit significantly from these developments. Its factory investments in radar production and AI research secure long-term revenue streams, embed the group in critical national supply chains and grant access to lifecycle support contracts. An Ainvest analysis estimates the UAE radar factory alone could cost up to US $500 million, signalling both scale and investor confidence. Regionally, the spread of these initiatives could serve as a template for neighbouring states. With Gulf states increasingly aligned on defence self‑sufficiency, Thales may replicate its model with other partners beyond the UAE and Saudi, potentially in countries such as Qatar and Egypt. Academic research also underscores this growing industrial sophistication. Work published on AI‑augmented radar engineering highlights the utility of digital twin frameworks and machine‑learning algorithms in enhancing radar adaptability and performance, suggesting that Thales's cortAIx model reflects broader cutting‑edge trends. Commercially, localisation allows Gulf players to streamline supply‑chain logistics, support continuous operations—even during geopolitical tensions or sanctions—and catalyse export opportunities. Regionally, Thales's UAE‑based radar factory and proposed Saudi facility fit within a wider surge in Gulf defence industrialisation, spanning missile systems, drones, counter‑measures, air‑defence networks and electronic‑warfare platforms. End‑user demand for air surveillance, weapon systems, comms equipment and counter‑drone technologies has intensified. Thales's engagements align with this dynamic, suggesting ongoing growth in contract flow for its Gulf‑based defence facilities. Industry experts note that embedding AI within radars and systems will enhance detection accuracy and responsiveness, factors that both Gulf militaries and global buyers find increasingly compelling.
France 24
24-06-2025
- Politics
- France 24
Loire Valley châteaux under threat, warns the Climate Action Network in its latest report
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Borneo Post
24-06-2025
- Business
- Borneo Post
Rising ATR market to boost demand for MRO services
(From left) National Aerospace Industry Coordinating Office chief executive officer Shamsul Kamar Abu Samah, Selangor State Executive Councillor for Investment, Trade & Mobility Ng Sze Han, Amirudin, Colbert, APS Asia Pacific managing director Fergus Lopez, Managing Director for APS Asia Pacific, and APS Asia Pacific director of operations Tuan Azli during the facility launch. KUCHING: An anticipated rise in demand for turboprop regional ATR aircraft lends optimism for propeller maintenance, repair and overhaul (MRO) player Aircraft Propeller Service (APS), which opened its state-of-the-art MRO facility in Malaysia on Tuesday. According to APS chief executive officer Daniel Colbert, the group anticipates increased demand for MRO services due to increased flying but also due to more deliveries of ATR aircraft to the Asia Pacific region. 'If you look at the number of ATR aircraft that the airlines in Asia Pacific have on order, and also look at the aircraft that are due to be delivered to Southeast Asia within the next five years and within the next 10 years, it is very strong,' he told The Borneo Post in an exclusive interview. 'We met with ATR last week at the Paris Airshow and learnt that they are ramping up production this year and in the coming years as well. ATR — in its 20 year forecast for the period 2025-2044 — forecasts that it will deliver to the Asia Pacific region including India; 1,045 aircraft, accounting for half of its aircraft deliveries globally. 'We are establishing the MRO facility in Malaysia to cater to this tremendous growth we see in the Asia Pacific region.' This new, world-class MRO center reinforces APS' long-term commitment to the Asia Pacific region, the world's largest market for turboprop aircraft. The facility in Selangor is APS' first in Asia and adds to its existing global footprint in the United States and Brazil. APS is the only MRO company in Asia and the Americas licensed to perform original equipment manufacturer (OEM)-proprietary 568F propeller repairs under an agreement with Collins Aerospace, the propeller manufacturer. The US FAA and Civil Aviation Authority of Malaysia have both certified the new facility with EASA and other country approvals to follow soon. Colbert explained that the new MRO facility will offer full capability to maintain the propeller system in the country, adding that proprietary repairs need not go back to APS in the Americas or to the original equipment manufacturer in Europe. 'Instead, all the work can be done here in Malaysia at our world-class, internationally certified MRO facility. Our focus is on establishing this 'centre of excellence' we have opened here in Kuala Lumpur and further building up the full suite of capabilities. 'As we do that over the next three to five years, we will see how demand grows and possibly look at additional locations in the region. At the moment, our focus is on the facility we have just opened in Malaysia.' The Chief Minister of Selangor, Datuk Seri Amirudin Shari, was the guest-of-honor who officially opened the new MRO facility along with Colbert and APS Asia Pacific managing director, Fergus Lopez. Twenty of APS Malaysia's 30 employees have already completed APS' rigorous training in the US and Brazil, gaining certifications in complex inspections and OEM-authorised repair techniques. In addition, each of these trainees has completed 31 mandatory technical courses to ensure compliance with global performance standards. Asia-Pacific accounts for 37 per cent of the global ATR fleet and is projected to require nearly 1,000 additional 50-70 seat commercial turboprop aircraft over the next two decades. APS ATR facility mro turboprop
