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Pegasus Airlines completed (01-Oct-2026) acquisition of CSA Czech Airlines and Smartwings Group, following the receipt of all required regulatory approvals and the fulfilment of customary closing conditions. Smartwings will continue to operate under its brand, maintaining day to day operations, customer relationships and service delivery, while gaining new opportunities for innovation and development. The acquisition will bring together Pegasus Airlines' international footprint, operational expertise and low cost model with Smartwings' position and established presence in Central and Eastern Europe's leisure market to create a stronger platform for long term success and greater value for customers, employees and business partners. The combined fleet comprises more than 175 aircraft, with significant growth potential based on existing firm orders for 140 aircraft, secured by both airlines. [more - original PR]

Korean Air chairman and CEO Walter Cho, speaking at the CAPA Airline Leader Summit Asia, stated (02-Oct-2026) the merger between Korean Air and Asiana Airlines will deliver a "more widely spread network", "better schedules" and "better connections" for customers. Mr Cho said the merged carrier will be able to "diversify" the schedule to offer greater convenience and flexibility.

Tigerair Taiwan partnered (01-Oct-2026) with Dohop to launch the 'Tigerhop Connect' booking platform on 01-Oct-2026, announced at the CAPA Airline Leader Summit Asia. The platform utilises Dohop's RetailConnect technology to enable passengers "to easily book connecting flights to partner destinations during the same booking process", while also enabling "Tigerair Taiwan to overcome the complex technical limitations of traditional interline or shared flight numbers, efficiently integrating its own network with partner flights". Scoot is the first airline partner to join Tigerhop Connect, meaning "passengers departing from Singapore can easily transfer through [Taiwan Taoyuan International Airport] to various destinations" in Japan, while passengers departing from various destinations in Japan "no longer need to lug large luggage within Japan, but can easily depart from their nearest airport to Singapore". Tigerair Taiwan chairman Huang Shih-hui stated: "Through our collaboration with Dohop, we are able to extend our international routes in a more flexible manner", adding: "In the future, we also look forward to working with more aviation partners to further cultivate the Asia-Pacific market and provide Tigerair fans with a more comprehensive and borderless flying experience". [more - original PR - Chinese]

Taiyo Oil deputy executive officer and carbon neutral fuel marketing director Jun Shinmachi, speaking at the CAPA Airline Leader Summit Asia, stated (02-Oct-2026) airlines have a "lukewarm willingness to pay up for carbon neutral fuel" and the industry needs a "system in place to break through the standstill". Mr Shinmachi said governments need to "step in to engineer an equitable system" to ensure everyone takes a "fair share" of the cost of sustainable aviation fuel (SAF).

Japan Airlines (JAL) SVP of procurement and deputy SVP of general affairs Noriko Ogawa, speaking at the CAPA Airline Leader Summit Asia, stated (02-Oct-2026) "demonstrating ambition is crucial" in generating momentum in sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) development and adoption. Ms Ogawa said: "Ambition and execution must go hand in hand", and noted that JAL is working to drive SAF awareness through partnerships, including efforts to source used cooking oil in Japan as a feedstock. Ms Ogawa also said JAL is "pursing a wide range of initiatives" to improve operational efficiency.

Boeing head of sustainability Asia Pacific Kimberly Camrass, speaking at the CAPA Airline Leader Summit Asia, stated (02-Oct-2026) "There's no silver bullet when it comes to sustainability activity and results for aviation". Ms Camrass said fleet renewal is a "critical lever" for sustainability, but noted: "We have the tools to make progress now" in areas such as air traffic management, operational efficiency, sustainable aviation fuel, market-based measures and technology improvements.