Briefings ^BETA

China Airlines to Raise Cargo Fuel Surcharge from September 1：China Airlines has notified freight forwarders that it will adjust fuel surcharges for export cargo originating from Taiwan starting September 1, 2026, to reflect international oil price fluctuations. Under the updated fee structure, the fuel surcharge for long-haul routes to Europe and the Americas will increase by NT$7 to NT$58 per kilogram, representing a rise of approximately 13.7 percent. Meanwhile, the rate for short-haul routes in Asia will increase by NT$2 to NT$20 per kilogram, an advance of about 11.1 percent. China Airlines to Raise Cargo Fuel

File photo · 4300streetcar · CC BY 4.0

Taiwan Lawmakers Fail to Reach Consensus on Draft Drone Legislation：Committees of Taiwan's Legislative Yuan held cross-party negotiations on August 20, 2026, to discuss 14 draft versions of a drone regulation statute submitted by the Executive Yuan, political caucuses, and individual lawmakers. Following extended discussions without consensus among party representatives, meeting chairman and Taiwan People's Party convener Hung Yu-hsiang declared the entire bill retained for subsequent procedural handling. Taiwan Lawmakers Fail to Reach

File photo · Project Kei · CC BY-SA 4.0

Taiwan's MND says F-16V deliveries cannot meet year-end deadline, mulls special law amendment：Taiwan's Ministry of National Defense (MND) procured 66 F-16V (blk70) fighters from the United States under the New Fighter Procurement Special Act, originally scheduled for full delivery before the act expires at year-end. Due to production line constraints, the deliveries cannot be completed on time. The MND stated on August 20 that unused budget will be reported to the Executive Yuan for reservation, and whether to amend the act to extend the deadline is currently under study to ensure the military's maximum interests. Taiwan s MND says F-16V deliveries

Taiwan's First Two F-16V Block 70 Fighter Jets Depart US for Delivery Flight：The first two of 66 F-16V Block 70 fighter jets purchased by Taiwan, bearing serial numbers 6727 and 6728, departed the United States on August 17, 2026, Eastern Time, and are expected to arrive in Taiwan soon. The trans-Pacific flight involves aerial refueling and a maintenance stop to accommodate pilot endurance and aircraft performance limits. Taiwan s First Two F-16V Block 70

China Airlines to Launch New Business Class Tableware on Long-Haul Routes in September：China Airlines announced on August 20 that it will launch a new tableware collection for its premium business class starting September 1. The new service will feature red plum blossom design motifs and will be introduced on routes including Frankfurt, Prague, Sydney, Brisbane, Melbourne, and Auckland. China Airlines to Launch New

File photo · 4300streetcar · CC BY 4.0

STARLUX Airlines Displays Sorayama Gold and Silver Aircraft Together at Tokyo Narita：STARLUX Airlines Chairman K.W. Chang piloted the carrier's Airbus A350-1000 art livery aircraft, named Sorayama Gold, from Taoyuan International Airport (TPE) to Tokyo Narita International Airport (NRT) on August 20, 2026. The flight departed Taoyuan at 08:30 Taipei time and arrived at Narita at 12:51 Tokyo time. STARLUX Airlines Displays Sorayama

US Study Finds Aircrew Face Highest Risk of Radiation-Linked Cancer Deaths：a new study published in JAMA Internal Medicine has found that US flight attendants and pilots face the highest risk of dying from radiation-related cancers among 503 occupations evaluated, surpassing even workers who directly handle radioactive materials. The research, led by Dr. Vishal Patel of Harvard Medical School, analyzed more than 12 million US death certificates from 2020 to 2024 drawn from the National Vital Statistics System. The dataset covered nearly 13 million decedents across 503 occupations, including approximately 14,000 pilots and 7,000 flight attendants. US Study Finds Aircrew Face Highest

Singapore Airlines Expands European Network with New Madrid Service and Flight Increases：Singapore Airlines (SIA) announced on August 4, 2026, that it is expanding its European flight network through increased service frequencies to multiple key cities and the launch of a new route to Madrid, Spain. The airline noted that the network expansion responds to growing passenger demand for air travel to Europe connecting through its hub at Singapore Changi Airport (SIN). Singapore Airlines Expands European

File photo · DS28 · CC BY-SA 4.0