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Batik Air Malaysia plans to add 10 aircraft this year, bringing its fleet to 63 planes, as the airline accelerates network expansion, enhances operational resilience, and strengthens connectivity from Subang Airport. Chief Executive Officer Datuk Chandran Rama Muthy said the additional aircraft, comprising Boeing 737s and Airbus A330s, will support higher flight frequencies, increased standby capacity, and improved services across its regional and international network. Transport Minister Anthony Loke (third from left) poses for a group photo after the launch of Batik Air’s Fixed For Your Reunion and Smart Travel Fare Initiative at a hotel here on Tuesday. Also present were Transport Ministry Secretary General Datuk Seri Jana Santhiran Muniayan (second from left) and Batik Air chief executive officer Datuk Chandran Rama Muthy (fourth from right). “With more aircraft, we will have additional standby capacity to better manage disruptions such as adverse weather, helping reduce knock-on delays,” Chandran said during the launch of the airline’s Fixed Fares for Your Reunion campaign, attended by Transport Minister Anthony Loke Siew Fook and other senior officials. Batik Air currently operates 53 aircraft, serving 65 destinations across 20 countries. The fleet expansion is expected to underpin further growth in frequencies and services throughout the year. Chandran added that the airline is targeting an on-time performance (OTP) rate of 85% by mid-2026, building on consistent OTP levels above 70% over the past three months. “These improvements reflect operational adjustments such as better capacity planning and aircraft availability, although factors like weather and airport constraints remain beyond our control,” he noted. He emphasized that improving punctuality is part of a broader effort to reduce travel fatigue and offer safer, more reliable alternatives to road journeys, particularly during peak festive periods. Additional flights and higher frequencies on key domestic and regional routes are aimed at ensuring smoother passenger flow while maintaining service standards. The Fixed Fares for Your Reunion campaign offers passengers pre-determined fares for the Chinese New Year period, allowing families to plan their journeys with ease. One-way fares from Kuala Lumpur/Subang to Kuching start at RM318, and to Kota Kinabalu at RM378, for travel between Feb 13 and 16, 2026. Extra flights have also been added from Johor Bahru to Penang (Feb 12–14) and Sibu (Feb 13–15), with fares starting from RM388 to Penang and RM588 to Sibu, providing passengers with additional flexibility during the festive season.

U.S. memory chipmaker Micron Technology on Tuesday announced a US$24 billion plan to build a new memory chip fabrication facility in Singapore, aiming to boost output amid a global shortage. The investment comes as the chip industry races to meet surging demand for AI and data-driven applications, which has left sectors from consumer electronics to AI services facing tight memory chip supplies. A Micron logo appears in this illustration taken August 25, 2025. Micron said the new advanced wafer fabrication facility, scheduled for completion over the next decade, will focus on NAND memory chips. Production is expected to begin in the second half of 2028 in a 700,000-square-foot (65,000 sq m) cleanroom facility. Micron already produces 98% of its flash memory chips in Singapore and is building a separate US$7 billion advanced packaging plant for high-bandwidth memory (HBM) chips, used in AI applications, which is expected to start production in 2027. Analysts warn the memory shortage could continue into late 2027, despite new production lines planned by Micron and its main competitors, South Korea’s Samsung and SK Hynix. Last week, Micron revealed it is in talks to acquire a fabrication site from Powerchip in Taiwan for US$1.8 billion to increase DRAM wafer output. SK Hynix also recently announced plans to accelerate the opening of a new factory by three months and begin operating another facility in February, reflecting industry efforts to close the supply gap.

Advancecon Holdings Bhd has secured a RM82.09 million contract, boosting its order book and earnings visibility as the civil engineering specialist expands its presence in Johor’s rapidly growing industrial corridor. In a filing with Bursa Malaysia yesterday, the group said its wholly owned subsidiary, Advancecon Infra Sdn Bhd, had accepted a letter of acceptance from Southern Catalyst Sdn Bhd for earthworks, main drainage, ancillary works and related infrastructure under Phase 1 (Package 1) of the Southern Catalyst Innovation District in Kulai, Johor. The project is scheduled to begin on Feb 4 and is expected to be completed by May 4, 2027, providing revenue visibility over a 15-month construction period. Situated in Mukim Sedenak, the development is poised to benefit from increasing manufacturing activity, rising logistics demand and broader regional spillover effects. Managing director Phum Boon Eng said the contract reflects continued confidence in Advancecon’s execution capabilities and its strong track record in large-scale earthworks projects. The contract is expected to contribute positively to the group’s earnings over its duration, barring unforeseen circumstances.

Citigroup is expected to implement another round of job cuts in March, following the elimination of about 1,000 positions earlier this month, according to two sources familiar with the matter. The upcoming layoffs are likely to be announced after employee bonuses are paid. While the scale and locations of the cuts have not been disclosed, the plans have not been previously reported. Citi’s shares gained 65.8% in 2025, outperforming peers and an index tracking broader bank stocks by a wide margin. The reductions come as Citigroup chief executive Jane Fraser continues a broad restructuring effort aimed at cutting costs, addressing regulatory issues, and improving profitability to narrow the gap with rivals. One source said the March layoffs are expected to affect managing directors and other senior staff across multiple business lines. “Some senior managers have already been reassigned to different divisions to secure roles ahead of the headcount reduction,” one source said. Another source noted that many senior employees were also affected in the earlier round of cuts this month. The sources declined to be identified as they were discussing internal personnel matters. In a statement, Citigroup said it plans to continue reducing its workforce through 2026 as part of its ongoing transformation. “These changes reflect adjustments to ensure our staffing levels, locations, and skill sets are aligned with current business needs, efficiencies gained through technology, and progress in our transformation programme, which is nearing its target state,” the bank said. Citigroup chief financial officer Mark Mason said during an earnings call that the bank’s global workforce declined from 240,000 in 2022 to 226,000 by the end of 2025. He added that headcount reductions are expected to continue as the bank reassesses its expense trajectory, noting that severance-related costs totalled US$800 million last year. The latest job cuts, together with another reorganisation announced in November, represent the next phase of Fraser’s turnaround strategy. Fraser, who became CEO in 2021, received a one-time US$25 million equity award for progress on the overhaul and was elected chair of the board in October. In 2023 and 2024, Citigroup publicly announced major layoffs as it streamlined management layers and divested assets. However, the most recent reductions have been carried out more discreetly, according to a third source. The workforce cuts come as Citigroup begins to see regulatory relief. The US Federal Reserve has closed actions related to trading risk management weaknesses, while the Office of the Comptroller of the Currency withdrew a 2024 amendment to a consent order originally issued in 2020. Citigroup shares rose 65.8% in 2025, significantly outperforming peers and the broader banking sector. The bank also repurchased US$13.25 billion worth of shares last year. So far this year, Citi’s shares are down 0.8%.