A Boeing 777-9
If the static and flying displays at the Singapore Airshow are a reflection of the state of air transport in Southeast Asia and the wider Asia-Pacific region, then the 2026 edition points to growing ambition and commitment from a new set of rising players.
The most obvious elephant-not-in-the-room is Boeing. The US airframer has no commercial aircraft represented in either the static or flying displays. While it is understandable that Boeing has kept a low profile in the aftermath of the 737 MAX 9 mid-cabin door plug blowout two years ago, one might have expected a stronger showing in 2026 as it looks to regain momentum in one of the world’s fastest-growing aviation markets.
Boeing’s last major presence at the show was in 2022, when it flew its 777-9 demonstrator halfway around the globe. The manufacturer did subsequently send the aircraft to the Dubai Airshow in November 2025, where big spenders Emirates placed an order for 65 of the type.
With major Asia-Pacific carriers such as ANA, Cathay Pacific and Singapore Airlines having already placed relatively modest orders for the delayed program and now awaiting deliveries, the decision not to showcase the aircraft to future passengers and clients in the region does leave a slightly sour taste.
Airbus, by contrast, maintained a steady presence. The European manufacturer brought two A350-1000s for the first time—a demonstrator for the flying display and a Starlux aircraft for static display—alongside an Air Nigini A220. Missing, however, was the A330neo, which had appeared at both the 2022 and 2024 shows.
COMAC, which grabbed headlines in 2024, returned with both the C919 and C909, including a C919 in the flying display. The Chinese manufacturer continues to view Southeast Asia as a key beachhead for pushing its portfolio into the international market.
Even as major carriers in the region prioritizes aircraft acquisitions from the US as a trade negotiation tool, Embraer, meanwhile, is still looking to carve a niche and pressing its regional aviation pitch with a single E195-E2 from Mongolian carrier Hunnu Air on display.
On the ground, aviation sustainability may finally be inching forward as a more concrete theme in 2026. Singapore is set to launch its sustainable aviation fuel levy later this year, a move that is drawing interest from regulators globally. In conjunction, an increased number of SAF refineries are becoming operational in the region. Aviation Week also understands that a number of SAF-related companies will be exhibiting at the show.
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