MAY 4, 2026. NEW CALEDONIA

Loyalty Islands airport blockades enter third month

Airport blockades across New Caledonia’s Loyalty Islands have now entered their third month, keeping many Air Calédonie flights grounded and increasing the risk of the airline’s liquidation and further isolating local communities.

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MAY 4, 2026. FIJI

Work starts on upgrade of Fiji’s Nausori Airport

Fiji Airports has begun a FJD64 million upgrade of Suva’s Nausori Airport, including a new terminal and runway works. The project aims to boost capacity, support tourism growth, and improve connectivity.

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  • Air New Zealand cuts more regional flights as fuel costs rise

    MAY 1, 2026: Air New Zealand is extending regional flight cuts to late July as rising fuel costs drive more capacity reductions. Dozens of extra flights are cancelled, with Nelson and Tauranga services among the most impacted.

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  • Australia’s Skytrans ferries out A319, one jet left in fleet

    MAY 1, 2026: Australia’s Skytrans has ferried out an A319-100, whittling its jet fleet down to a single aircraft. Owner Avia Solutions Group says it is aligning its ACMI capacity to local demand and seasonal conditions.

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  • ATSB: Fatigue crack behind Qantas B737 CFM engine failure

    APRIL 30, 2026: A final report released yesterday by the ATSB found a fatigue crack in a high-pressure turbine blade inside a CFM engine was behind a Qantas B737-800 engine failure during take-off in Sydney in November 2024.

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  • New Zealand to fast-track sweeping aviation rule reforms

    APRIL 30, 2026: New Zealand will fast-track aviation reforms that target aircraft operations and airports, updating security, licensing and maintenance rules, while cutting red tape to boost safety, efficiency and capacity.

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May 2026 News Briefs

MAY 4, 2026: Air New Zealand has released its March 2026 traffic data showing overall capacity increased by 4.1% compared to March 2025. Long-haul available seat kilometres rose 2.5%, while domestic capacity grew 3.4%, supported by two additional A321 aircraft in operation compared to March last year.

Read the news release here.

MAY 4, 2026: The Australian Government has secured two shipments of jet fuel totalling 100 million litres. The shipments are in addition to the eight shipments previouslt announced in partnership with BP Australia, Ampol, and Viva Energy.

Read the news release here.

MAY 1, 2026: The Qantas Group says it will extend a previously announced 5% capacity reductions through to September 30 due to ongoing high fuel costs. The cuts mostly impact Qantas and Jetstar inter-capital flights.

Read the news release here.

MAY 1, 2026: Qantas has requested Australia’s International Air Services Commission renew its approval to operate thrice-weekly season round trips on the Australia – Italy country for another five years. The current approval expires on January 12, 2027.

Read the filing here.

MAY 1, 2026: Qantas has requested Australia’s International Air Services Commission renew its approval to operate five weekly E190 round-trips on the Australia – Timor-Leste country by another five years. The current approval expires on March 10, 2027.

Read the filing here.

MAY 1, 2026: Qantas has requested Australia’s International Air Services Commission renew its approval to operate five weekly B787 round-trips on the Australia – Vietnam country by five years. The current approval expires on March 20, 2027. In all three applications, Qantas asks that either it or Jetstar or any other wholly owned subsidiary may operate the flights.

Read the filing here.

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APRIL 29, 2026. TONGA

Nose gear fails on Forum Fishing Agency King Air B200

The nose gear of a King Air B200 operated by the Technology Service Corporation on behalf of the Forum Fisheries Agency collapsed on or after landing at Nukuʻalofa’s Fuaʻamotu Airport on April 24, 2026.

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APRIL 29, 2026. AUSTRALIA

Emirates ups Southwest Pacific flights, returns to Adelaide

Emirates is increasing flights to Australia and New Zealand, including returning to Adelaide, as it rebuilds its network amid ongoing Gulf unrest. However, services remain well below pre-conflict levels.

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May 2026 Aircraft Movements

MAY 4, 2026: Jetstar has returned an A320-200 to the lessor, SMBC. The aircraft, VH YXQ (msn 5618) ferried out of Melbourne (MEL) for Tainan (TNN) via Alice Springs (ASP) and Darwin (DRW) on over the week starting April 25.

MAY 1, 2026: Qantas is ferrying in its sixth A321-200XLR. VH-OGF (msn 12835) departed Hamburg (XFW) for Sydney (SYD) via Bengaluru (BLR) on April 30. It is due to land in Australia early on May 2.

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APRIL 28, 2026. VANUATU

Vanuatu prime minister flags major aviation sector reform

Vanuatu’s PM says its aviation sector, including Air Vanuatu, needs reform after a review found poor planning and ageing aircraft. The government wants to restore reliability, cut costs and rebuild confidence.

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May 2026 Route Briefs

MAY 4, 2026: Nauru Airlines will resume its weekly B737-800 operated Tarawa (TRW) – Kiritimati (CXI) round-trips operated on behalf of Air Kiribati on May 6.

MAY 4, 2026: Qantas is suspending its six weekly A330-200 operated Sydney (SYD) - Bengaluru (BLR) round-trips on August 6. The airline currently plans to resume flights on the route on October 25.

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Qatar Airways B777

APRIL 27, 2026. NEW ZEALAND

Qatar Airways returning to Auckland in June – via Adelaide

Qatar Airways will resume Auckland flights via Adelaide on mid-June as it rebuilds operations impacted by the Iran conflict. Its other Southwest Pacific services are also gradually returning  to normal despite ongoing uncertainty.

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