JULY 6, 2026. AUSTRALIA

Nauru Airlines drops two North Pacific Connector sectors

Nauru Airlines has dropped the Majuro – Pohnpei and Pohnpei – Koror sectors from its Australian Government-backed North Pacific Connector service. The flights now terminate at Majuro.

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Air New Zealand B787-9

JULY 6, 2026. NEW ZEALAND

Air New Zealand returns last grounded B787-9 to service

Air New Zealand has returned its last grounded B787-9 to service after almost a year in storage, while nine of its fourteen Dreamliners have now completed cabin refurbishments, helping ease a capacity crunch at the airline.

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Air New Zealand ATR72-600 lining up to take off

  • Auckland Airport releases 2040 master plan

    JULY 3, 2026: Auckland Airport’s new master plan, released this week, outlines how it plans to manage growth into the 2040s but leaves key infrastructure decisions, including a second runway and terminal integrations in limbo without any funding and timelines. Instead, it loosely ties the projects to future demand.

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  • Air New Zealand boss bullish on Western Sydney flights

    JULY 3, 2026: Air New Zealand expects its new Western Sydney Airport flights to be profitable, citing the airport’s lower costs, growing catchment and expansion potential. The airline says the airport will complement its existing Sydney operations amid ongoing capacity constraints at Kingsford Smith.

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  • PNGAIC says unstable approach behind Tropicair hard landing

    JULY 2, 2026: Papua New Guinea’s Accident Investigation Commission found an unstable approach, decision-making errors and plan continuation bias was behind a Tropicair Cessna 208B hard landing at Balimo in July 2025.

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  • Three former Regional Express directors cleared by court

    JULY 2, 2026: ASIC has failed in its bid to hold three former Regional Express directors liable for alleged continuous disclosure breaches, with the NSW Supreme Court dismissing the claims against them. Former chairman Lim Kim Hai admitted the contraventions and will return to court for sentencing.

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July 2026 News Briefs

JULY 6, 2026: Papua New Guinea’s National Airports Corporation (NAC) and AG Investments have signed a PGK24.7 million contract to begin the domestic terminal expansion project at Port Moresby Airport (POM). In this first phase, the NAC will extend the terminal by up to 110 metres outward from the landside face of the terminal building and running the full length of 110 metres. The project will also include upgrades to the airfield ground lighting and power supply systems.

Read the news release here.

JULY 6, 2026: Fuel for the last three months has cost Fiji Airways FJD150 million more compared to the same period last year, according to CEO Paul Scurrah, who recently told a local newspaper that the airline has already introduced a range of initiatives to strengthen financial discipline and manage rising global cost pressures.

Read the news report here

JULY 3, 2026: Texel Air Australasia (Texel Air) has signed on to operate charter air cargo services from the 24 hour cargo precinct at Western Sydney Airport (WSI) after it opens later this month.

Read the news release here.

JULY 3, 2026: On July 1, 2026, a UPS operated B737-300F travelled beyond its runway holding point and entered the runway at Singapore Airport (SIN) while an Air New Zealand operated B777 3000ER was commencing its take-off roll. No damage or injuries were reported

Read the investigation summary here.

JULY 3, 2026: The Government of New Caledonia has approved scheduled passenger flights operated by Air Oceania between Nouméa Magenta (GEA) and Ouvéa (UVE) and Maré (MEE) Airports in the Loyalty Islands from July 18. Protesters continue to prevent Air Calédonie aircraft from using Ouvéa and Maré Airports.

Read the news report here.

JULY 3, 2026: The Cook Islands Government has renewed an agreement with the Pacific Islands Forum Fisheries Agency for its aircraft to continue their aerial surveillance of the country’s waters.

Read the news report here.

JULY 3, 2026: Northern Mariana Islands based Star Marianas Air has cancelled all flights between the afternoon of July 4 and the morning of July 7, 2026, in response to approaching Tropical Storm Bavi.

Read the news release here.

JULY 3, 2026: The US Department of Transportation has approved an application by Polynesian Airlines, trading as Samoa Airways, to continue operating its inter-island flights within American Samoa between July 6, 2026, and January 1, 2027.

Read the USDOT filing here.

JULY 2, 2026: The New Zealand Government has appointed Aedeen Boadita-Cormican as Transport Accident Investigation Commission (TAIC) Commissioner until May 31, 2031. TAIC investigates all aviation accidents and incidents in New Zealand.

Read the news release here.

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JULY 1, 2026. AUSTRALIA

ATSB finds Avalon Airshow pilot exited manoeuvre too low

The Australian Transport Safety Bureau has completed its investigation into an air display accident at the Avalon Airshow earlier this year. The agency concluded that the aircraft, which was performing a triple avalanche manoeuvre, was too low when it exited the complex aerobatic sequence.

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JULY 1, 2026. GUAM

Guam Airport seeks $17.7mn government bailout

Guam’s A.B. Won Pat International Airport is seeking a USD17.7 million government bailout as declining visitor numbers and reduced airline capacity erode revenue. But airport officials say raising airline fees would further undermine tourism, while legislators remain divided over providing additional financial support.

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July 2026 Aircraft Movements

JULY 6, 2026: Qantas has positioned an E190-100 into Norwich Airport (NWI) ahead of its ferry flight to Australia. The aircraft, VH-E9B (msn 190.0027) will be operated by Qantas subsidiary Network Aviation under the QantasLink brand

JULY 2, 2026: Australian Corporate Jet Centre has begun ferrying its second E190-E2 to Melbourne Essendon (MEB). The aircraft, VH-IGJ (msn 19020183) departed Sao Jose dos Campos (SJK) on July 1 (local time) and at the time of writing, is enroute to Bridgetown (BGI)

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JUNE 30, 2026. NEW ZEALAND

Boeing delays push Air New Zealand B787 deliveries back

Air New Zealand’s first two new B787-9 deliveries have slipped into the 2027 financial year due to manufacturing delays. The airline says the setback comes as its fleet availability improves following the return of most aircraft grounded by long-running engine issues, giving it greater flexibility.

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July 2026 Route Briefs

JULY 3, 2026: Nauru Airlines will operate a Nauru (INU) – Tarawa (TRW) - Majuro (MAJ) – Nauru rotation once per week, effective July 3, 2026.

JULY 3, 2026: Nauru Airlines will operate a Nauru (INU) – Majuro (MAJ) – Tarawa (TRW) – Nauru rotation once per week, effective July 6, 2026.

JULY 2, 2026: Virgin Australia will axe its B737-800 operated Brisbane (BNE) – Apia (APW) round-trips, effective August 24, 2026, citing the need to manage the impact of elevated global jet fuel prices and align capacity with demand.

JULY 1, 2026: VietJet Air will reduce frequencies on the Ho Chi Minh (SGN) – Perth (PER) city-pair from five per week to four per week between August 1 – September 17 and October 25 - December 11, 2026. The service is operated by A321 200neo aircraft.

 

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Qatar Airways B777

JUNE 30, 2026. AUSTRALIA

Qatar Airways locks in Canberra restart date

Qatar Airways will resume Canberra flights on December 8, initially flying four times a week via Melbourne before increasing to daily services in March 2027. The routing allows the airline to expand its Australian network while remaining within bilateral limits.

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