The Singapore Air Show has been in full swing, and there have been signs of life at the show. Let’s see what the order books are cooking in the equator heat.
As usual, we’ll go by airframers, then anyone else, in alphabetical order.
Airbus
TigerAir Taiwan goes for the Airbus A321neo
Tigerair Taiwan has signed a purchase agreement with Airbus for four A321neo aircraft, marking the airline’s first order for this type. The new aircraft will support the airline’s network expansion. They currently operate a fleet of 17 A320 Family aircraft, including nine A320ceo and eight A320neo.
In Quotes
Chairperson Joyce Huang of Tigerair Taiwan said
“The purchase of A321neo aircraft is a cornerstone of our ‘third-generation’ fleet expansion, designed to maximise operational efficiency as we scale for regional dominance,”
“Configured with 232 seats, the A321neo allows us to increase capacity on our high-demand ‘golden routes’ and accelerate network expansion. By serving more passengers across more destinations with a lower cost per seat, this investment reinforces our position as Taiwan’s leading LCC. Furthermore, it advances our journey toward a younger, more fuel-efficient fleet that meets both our commercial and ESG targets.”
Benoît de Saint-Exupéry, Airbus EVP Sales of Commercial Aircraft business.
“We are pleased to see Tigerair Taiwan reaffirm its confidence in Airbus as it takes another step in its fleet growth. The addition of the A321neo will complement its existing A320 fleet,” said
“The A321neo is the ideal platform for Tigerair Taiwan to capture growing demand while maintaining its commitment to cost-effective operations.”
ATR
AirBorneo chooses ATR -600 family aircraft
AirBorneo and ATR today announced a strategic partnership to modernise Malaysia’s Rural Air Services (RAS) fleet, with AirBorneo confirming a firm order for eight ATR aircraft.
The agreement comprises five ATR 72-600s and three ATR 42-600s, with purchase rights for four additional aircraft. Deliveries are scheduled between 2027 and 2029. The agreement supports AirBorneo’s transition from being previously operated as MASWings.
AirBorneo currently serves 21 destinations, with primary operational bases in Kota Kinabalu and Miri. Its fleet comprises eight ATR 72-500 aircraft and six DHC-6-400 Twin Otter aircraft
In Quotes
Megat Ardian, Chief Executive Officer of AirBorneo, said:
“This partnership with ATR marks a major milestone in AirBorneo’s commitment to delivering reliable, safe and modern air services for the communities we serve,”
“Our new ATR –600 fleet will significantly strengthen the Rural Air Services network by offering improved comfort, greater efficiency and the operational capability required for regional connectivity in East Malaysia. The ATR platform has consistently proven to be the most suitable aircraft for our operating environment, and upgrading to the latest –600 series ensures we can continue providing essential connectivity while preparing AirBorneo for long-term growth.”
Nathalie Tarnaud Laude, Chief Executive Officer of ATR, added:
“AirBorneo’s decision to invest in both the ATR 72-600 and ATR 42-600 reflects the strength and versatility of the ATR family and its suitability for demanding regional operations,” said
“The ATR 42-600, with its exceptional efficiency and low operating costs, is ideally suited for serving lower-density regional routes, while the ATR 72-600 provides additional capacity where it is needed. We are proud to partner with AirBorneo in strengthening reliable air connectivity across Borneo and the wider region.”
Boeing
Air Cambodia signs for 737 MAXs
Boeing and Air Cambodia announced the airline’s largest single-aisle order for up to 20 737 MAX airplanes in an agreement unveiled at the Singapore Airshow. This marks the Southeast Asian carrier’s first purchase of Boeing airplanes.
The airline finalised its firm order for 10 737-8 jets and the opportunity for 10 more in December 2025. The order was previously unidentified on Boeing’s Orders and Deliveries website.
Air Cambodia currently operates a fleet of six single-aisle and regional jets on domestic and international routes to Vietnam, India, Thailand, China, Japan and Hong Kong.
In Quotes
Dr. David Zhan, CEO of Air Cambodia, said:
“The 737-8 gives Air Cambodia the ideal combination of range, capacity and fuel efficiency to support our next phase of growth,” said
“This investment – Air Cambodia’s largest narrowbody purchase – will let us launch direct services to important markets across North and Southeast Asia, and offer competitively priced travel for passengers, while creating local jobs and training opportunities that strengthen our communities.”
Brad McMullen, Boeing senior vice president of Commercial Sales and Marketing, added:
“We are proud to welcome Air Cambodia as our newest 737 MAX customer and look forward to partnering with them to introduce the versatile and reliable 737-8 to the Kingdom of Cambodia,” said
“We are committed to supporting the growth of aviation in Cambodia and throughout the region as Air Cambodia strengthens ties across Asia with these fuel-efficient airplanes.”
Pansonic Avionics
Panasonic Avionics Corporation has signed an MoU with Shanghai Spacesail Technologies to explore opportunities to add Spacesail’s Low Earth Orbit (LEO) satellite constellation to Panasonic Avionics’ in-flight connectivity global network.
The MOU allows the parties to immediately begin developing the plan to provide LEO connectivity to airlines and passengers.
The companies will continue to work towards leveraging Spacesail’s future high-bandwidth, low-latency constellation, which is designed to support a wide range of industries with reliable global broadband coverage. Capitalising on Spacesail’s unique position as a global LEO connectivity constellation operating over China, adding the company’s service to Panasonic Avionics’ worldwide in-flight connectivity service will enable seamless LEO in-flight connectivity everywhere airlines fly.
The addition of Spacesail will complement Panasonic Avionics’ existing partnerships with Eutelsat’s OneWeb LEO network.
In Quotes
John Wade, Vice President of Connectivity at Panasonic Avionics, said:
“Airlines are demanding higher speeds, lower latency, and more resilient connectivity solutions than ever before, at every phase of flight. Adding Spacesail’s LEO constellation to Panasonic Avionics’ portfolio will enable us to provide passengers with connectivity over every country, strengthening our network and reinforcing our strategy of providing airlines with the performance, flexibility and future-proofed capability they require.”
Spacesail commented on the collaboration:
“We are pleased to collaborate with Panasonic Avionics to extend our LEO capabilities into the aviation market. Our joint efforts will ensure a seamless digital experience for passengers, reinforcing our commitment to reliable global broadband in the skies.”
Pratt & Whitney
Vietjet sticks with Pratt & Whitney to power 44 additional A320neo family aircraft
Vietjet Air and Pratt & Whitney announced that the airline has selected an additional 44 GTF-powered Airbus A320neo family aircraft, including 24 A321neos and 20 A321XLRs, bringing its total orders to 137 GTF-powered aircraft.
Deliveries will start in July 2026. Pratt & Whitney will also provide Vietjet with engine maintenance through a 12-year EngineWiseComprehensive service agreement.
In Quotes
Vietjet Managing Director Nguyen Thanh Son said
Vietjet is a rapidly growing airline with an expansive fleet and flight network. “Vietjet values our relationship with Pratt & Whitney and its latest generation technology,”
“The GTF engine is powering our growth with industry-leading operating economics and fuel efficiency of up to 20%. We continue to trust in the long-term, comprehensive and responsible partnership with Pratt & Whitney.”
Rick Deurloo, President of Commercial Engines, Pratt & Whitney, said
“Ten years ago, Vietjet joined the Pratt & Whitney GTF family and this selection demonstrates the airline’s continued confidence in the GTF engine,” said
“With this latest order, Vietjet will further realize the benefits of the most efficient engine for single-aisle aircraft and our ongoing commitment to enabling their network expansion.”
Building Discussions
We’ve spent the week monitoring the Singapore Air Show for civil aviation headlines (as I doubt most of you would be interested in service contracts and military items) and as expected, it’s a smaller show, so not that many big splashy orders are made.
Whilst it’s not the biggest in numbers, air shows have an important purpose: to demonstrate products and to engage in conversations. And those conversations can lead to orders further on down the line.
And those discussions bear fruit later on… at other air shows.
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