FEBRUARY 19, 2026. NEW ZEALAND

Auckland Airport releases 1H FY26 interim financial results

Auckland Airport’s net underlying after-tax profit for the six months ended December 31, 2025, crept up 6% to NZD157.1 million (USD93.7 million) as the airport benefitted from steadily increasing passenger traffic and revenue.

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FEBRUARY 19, 2026. NEW ZEALAND

Air New Zealand wraps up next-gen demonstrator programme

Air New Zealand says it completed over 100 flights during its four month Next Generation battery-electric BETA ALIA CX300 Aircraft Technical Demonstrator Programme undertaken in conjunction with BETA Technologies.

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Aero South Pacific Airport Briefs available for download

Aero South Pacific has released its first airport briefs covering Australia’s top 20 passenger airports. The briefs, which you can download for free, provide an informative snapshot of scheduled regular passenger transport and passenger charter activity at Australia’s busiest airports.

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FEBRUARY 18, 2026. AUSTRALIA

Escrow conditions set to lift for Virgin Australia backers

Virgin Australia is expecting to release a swathe of escrowed shares next month. Among the parties able to sell those shares, which represent over 12.1% of the airline’s issued stock, is majority shareholder, Bain Capital.

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FEBRUARY 17, 2026. PAPUA NEW GUINEA

Air Niugini appoints new CEO, fails to squash B787 rumours

Air Niugini has appointed aviation veteran Alan Milne as CEO following the ousting of Gary Seddon. It is Milne’s second crack at Port Moresby’s top airline job, having previously served as Air Niugini’s CEO between 2018 and 2020.

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FEBRUARY 17, 2026. SOLOMON ISLANDS

Outgoing Solomon Airlines CEO says carrier is in peril

The outgoing interim Solomon Airlines CEO says 90% of its domestic inter-island
routes fail to cover their direct operating costs, let alone make a profit, highlighting the difficulties of operating in the Southwest Pacific.

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FEBRUARY 16, 2026. FRENCH POLYNESIA

Lionel Guérin confirmed as Air Tahiti Nui CEO

The Air Tahiti Nui board of directors has formally appointed Lionel Guérin as the airline’s new CEO. The appointment takes effect immediately. He replaces Philippe Marie, who was ousted from the role by French Polynesia's president in January.

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FEBRUARY 16, 2026. FIJI

AviLease acquires Fiji Airways A350-900

The ownership of an A350-900 on lease to Fiji Airways has changed. The aircraft, DQ-FAN (msn 260), was sold to Riyadh based AviLease in December 2025. The vendor was GOAL Aircraft Leasing. The aircraft will remain with Fiji Airways under lease.

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FEBRUARY 13, 2026. FRENCH POLYNESIA

Ferry flight underway for first Motu Link ATR72 freighter

EXCLUSIVE: French Polynesian cargo start-up Motu Link Airline is ferrying in its first aircraft. The ATR72-500 freighter, F-OHEI, left Toulouse on February 11, 2026, on the first leg of its marathon flight through to Papeete.

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  • Ex Sydney Seaplanes CEO debuts Alt Air

    FEBRUARY 12, 2026: The former CEO of Sydney Seaplanes has launched an advanced air mobility company called Alt Air. Posting on social media platforms on February 11, Aaron Shaw said Alt Air would offer practical, scalable AAM services to Australia and the region.

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  • Philippine Airlines bullish on Saipan as Korean LCCs exit

    FEBRUARY 12, 2026: Philippine Airlines is bullish about the future of its Northern Marianas – Philippines flights while Korean carriers are facing “operational challenges” on their flights to Saipan and suspending services.

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  • SmartLynx Australia rebrands back to Skytrans

    FEBRUARY 11, 2026: ACMI airline SmartLynx Australia will adopt its former name, Skytrans, as it attempts to put distance between it and a brand tarnished by the collapse of another SmartLynx airline. SmartLynx Australia made the switch official on February 10, 2026.

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  • Solomon Airlines CEO slams Qantas’ Honiara application

    FEBRUARY 11, 2026: The outgoing Solomon Airlines CEO has accused Qantas of dumping capacity on the Honiara (HIR) – Brisbane (BNE) city pair in a “cynical attempt” to become the sole operator on the lightly trafficked but strategically important route.

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Air New Zealand B787-9

Download our complimentary Country Briefs

Aero South Pacific is pleased to offer our readers a complimentary 27-page PDF download providing key data on each of the 23 aviation markets we cover, including the active airports in each market and the local and international airlines servicing those airports.

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February 2026 News Briefs

FEBRUARY 18, 2026: The Guam International Airport Authority says it has not received approximately USD9.2 million in aviation fuel tax payments due for 2018 through 2023 despite a law requiring its remittance, according to airport officials.

Read the news article here.

FEBRUARY 18, 2026: The board of PNG Air Limited appointed Gheno Minia as a non-executive director, effective December 22, 2025.  Minia was nominated by a new sophisticated shareholder, PNG Air- Pacific Balance Fund.

Read the stock exchange filing here.

FEBRUARY 18, 2026: Jetstar says it carried over 700,000 customers on trans-Tasman routes in 2025, an increase of 9% on the previous year. Factors driving the increase included marketing campaigns and the launch of four new trans-Tasman city pairs.

Read the news release here.

FEBRUARY 17, 2026: Melbourne Airport (MEL) says January 2026 was its busiest month on record for international arrivals, with 688,534 international arrivals passing through the airport last month, including a record 688,534 international arrivals on January 9.

Read the news release here.

FEBRUARY 17, 2026: Tonga’s prime minister, La’aulialemalietoa Schmidt, has discussed establishing direct air services with Western Samoa in talks with Western Samoa PM Lord Fakafānua on February 12. Schmidt says flights between Nuku’alofa and Apia would improve connectivity, tourism, and trade.

Read the news story here.

FEBRUARY 16, 2026: The Cook Islands Government is considering a soil stabilisation treatment as a short to medium-term solution to ongoing runway issues at several outer islands airports, particularly Mangaia (MGS) and Mitiaro (MOI), according to Prime Minister Mark Brown.

Read the news story here.

FEBRUARY 16, 2026: US marines from Marine Wing Support Squadron 171 and Marine Fighter Attack Squadron 232 have deployed to Tinian Airport (TIQ) in the Northern Mariana Islands under an aviation training relocation programme aimed at strengthening expeditionary aviation capabilities. This includes setting up forward arming and a refuelling point at the airport.

Read the news story here.

FEBRUARY 13, 2026: New Zealand’s Civil Aviation Authority has appointed Gayle Holmes as deputy chief executive (regulatory enablement and response). Holmes was most recently the general manager (compliance, monitoring and enforcement) at Environmental Protection Authority, where she’s been since 2020.

Read the news release here.

FEBRUARY 13, 2026: Coolangatta/Gold Coast Airport (OOL) has recorded one of its busiest summers on record with more than 1.2 million passengers travelling through the terminal over the peak holiday period. Approximately 600,000 people travelled in December alone, with a further 637,000 travellers since the beginning of January – 47,000 more passengers than last summer. 

Read the news release here.

FEBRUARY 13, 2026: Northern Mariana Islands airport operator, the Commonwealth Ports Authority, has asked the US Department of Transportation to dismiss a January 2026 complaint filed by Star Marianas Air alleging maladministration, among other matters.

Read the filing here.

FEBRUARY 12, 2026: Maroochydore/Sunshine Coast Airport (MCY) has officially opened its new state-of-the-art outbound baggage facility, marking a significant milestone in the airport’s AUD170 million terminal upgrade. The new facility includes more than 300 metres of new conveyor systems including two large make-up loops to support increased baggage capacity, doubling what was originally here at the airport.

Read the news release here.

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FEBRUARY 10, 2026. FIJI

Fiji Airports CEO says no delays to Labasa Airport closure

Fiji Airports have denied claims that they have delayed the six-week closure of Labasa Airport. The airport operator intends to undertake infrastructure upgrades as planned and the airport will close between February 16 and March 27, 2026.

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FEBRUARY 10, 2026. GUAM

Asia Pacific Airlines wants to tap US open skies agreements

Guam’s Aero Micronesia, better known as Asia Pacific Airlines, has asked the US DOT to let it fly cargo and mail between the US and any country with which it has an open-skies or multilateral agreement.

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February 2026 Aircraft Movements

FEBRUARY 17, 2026: Another ex Qantas Group DHC-8-Q300 has ferried out of Australia, bound for Canada via Europe. VH-SBB (msn 539) left Alice Springs (ASP) on February 12 and, at the time of publication, is at Sharm el-Sheikh (SSH). The aircraft was operated by Qantas subsidiary Eastern Australia Airlines in QantasLink livery.

FEBRUARY 16, 2026: Qantas Group subsidiary Network Aviation has donated a F100 to the HARS Aviation Museum at Parkes Airport (PKE). The now-retired aircraft, VH-NHO (msn 11312) ferried from Perth (PER) to Parkes on February 10, 2026.

FEBRUARY 11, 2026: Canada's Avmax Group has ferried another ex-Qantas Group DHC-8-Q300 to Canada. VH SBW (msn 599) flew from Alice Springs (ASP) to Calgary (YYC) via Cairns (CNS), Majuro (MAJ) and Kapolei (JRF) over February 8 - 9.

FEBRUARY 9, 2026: Jetstar Airways has retired an A320-200, VH-YXV (msn 5598). The aircraft was withdrawn from service in early January 2026, ferrying to Singapore Seletar (XSP). It recently continued onto Toulouse (QYF) via Muscat (MCT) and Cairo (CAI). The A320 will be taken up by Jetstar Japan and re-registered as JA11JJ.

FEBRUARY 9, 2025: PNG Air is mid way through ferrying another mid-life ATR72-600 to Papua New Guinea. The aircraft, P2-ATY (msn 1047) departed Toulouse (QYF) on February 6 and, at the time of publication, is at Bahrain (BAH). PNG Air is inducting several ATRs this year.

FEBRUARY 9, 2026: Qantas has taken delivery of another ex-Singapore Airlines B737-800. The aircraft, VH-XZT (msn 44230), formerly 9V-MGN, ferried from Singapore (SIN) to Alice Springs (ASP) via Darwin (DRW) on February 5. In June 2025, Qantas announced it would lease four mid-life B737-800s to help counter delivery delays of new aircraft.

FEBRUARY 2, 2026: The Qantas Group has ferried out another DHC-8-Q300 following its retirement of the type last year. VH-SBI (msn 605) departed Alice Springs (ASP) on January 29, 2026, and at the time of publication, is at Muscat (MCT). The QantasLink branded aircraft was operated by Qantas Group subsidiary Eastern Australia Airlines.

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FEBRUARY 9, 2026. AUSTRALIA

Virgin Australia locks in AFL travel for another five years

Virgin Australia has inked another five-year partnership agreement with the Australian Football League (AFL). While the terms of the agreement were not disclosed, the airline is understood to have seen off a push by rival carrier Qantas to snare the business.

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February 2026 Route Briefs

FEBRUARY 19, 2026:  EVA Air will increase its B787-10 operated Taipei (TPE) – Brisbane (BNE) services from three to four weekly round-trips between June 16 and August 25, 2026.

FEBRUARY 18, 2026:  Qatar Airways will trim its daily B777-200LR operated Doha (DOH) – Auckland (AKL) round trips from daily to five per week between April 14 and June 15, 2026.

FEBRUARY 18, 2026: Korean Air will increase its B787-9 operated Seoul (ICN) – Brisbane (BNE) round-trips from three to four per week, effective April 27, 2026.

FEBRUARY 17, 2026: Air India will upgrade the operating aircraft type on its daily Delhi (DEL) – Melbourne (MEL) round-trips from a B787-8 to a B777 300ER, effective July 1, 2026.

FEBRUARY 12, 2026: French Bee will temporarily increase its Paris Orly (ORY) – San Francisco (SFO) – Papeete (PPT) flights from three to five per week between June 27 and September 5, 2026.

FEBRUARY 12, 2026: United Airlines will temporarily increase its San Francisco (SFO) – Papeete (PPT) flights from six to seven per week between June 29 and October 24, 2026.

FEBRUARY 5, 2026:  Aero Dili will operate its weekly Dili (DIL) – Oecusse (OEC) round-trips on Saturdays rather than Fridays across February and March 2026.

FEBRUARY 3, 2026: Air Vanuatu has resumed scheduled DHC-6-300 flights between Port Vila (VLI) and Loh (TOH) in the Torres Islands after a two year pause. The flights resumed on February 1.

FEBRUARY 3, 2026: Qantas has started operating an A220-300 on the Brisbane (BNE) – Wellington (WLG) city-pair. The aircraft will initially replace the B737-800 on three of the carrier’s five weekly scheduled round trips. 

FEBRUARY 3, 2026: Qantas will axe its underperforming DHC-8-Q400 operated Melbourne (MEL) – Albury (ABX) and Melbourne – Wagga Wagga (WGA) flights, effective March 1, 2026.

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FEBRUARY 9, 2026. NEW ZEALAND

Air New Zealand long-haul cabin crew to strike this week

Air New Zealand’s long-haul cabin crew will strike on February 12 and 13, 2026, seeing some flights cancelled. The long-haul cabin crew work Air New Zealand’s B777-300ER and B787-9 flights. The airline says it will attempt to minimise disruptions.

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