NOVEMBER 2, 2026. FRENCH POLYNESIA

Unions take Air Tahiti to court over strike-breaking claims 

Air Tahiti is facing legal action from two labour unions accusing the airline of breaching French Polynesian labour laws by using foreign ground crew during an ongoing strike. The airline denies wrongdoing, while negotiations over pay and working conditions remain deadlocked.

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NOVEMBER 2, 2026. PAPUA NEW GUINEA/TONGA

PNG and Tonga ink aviation safety cooperation MOU 

Papua New Guinea and Tonga have signed an MOU to strengthen regional cooperation in aviation safety investigations, sharing expertise, training and resources. The PNGAIC hopes the agreement will help build investigative capability across the Pacific and encourage similar partnerships with other island nations.

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  • Air New Zealand ferries first of ten new Boeing 787s  

    OCTOBER 30, 2026: Air New Zealand has ferried in the first of ten new B787s, with the second due this weekend. The new aircraft feature more premium seats and more efficient engines. Meanwhile, the airline has delayed introducing its Skynest economy bunks until 2027 and is adding more long-haul services from Christchurch.

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  • Qatar Airways CEO says Auckland to remain most easterly airport  

    OCTOBER 30, 2026: Qatar Airways has ruled out near-term expansion further into the Southwest Pacific, with CEO Hamad Al-Khater citing the need for the right sized aircraft, high fuel costs, limited demand and network priorities elsewhere. As a result, destinations such as Fiji remain marginal long-term prospects for the Qatari carrier.

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  • One Pacific Airways acquires ERJ-145 ahead of planned launch  

    OCTOBER 29, 2026:Micronesian start-up One Pacific Airways has acquired a 50-seat Embraer ERJ-145LR from Australian Corporate Jet Centres ahead of it beginning scheduled flights between Pohnpei and Kosrae in mid-November, with plans for a wider network linking Micronesia and neighbouring countries.

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  • PNG businessman acquires Cessna Caravan from Tropicair 

    OCTOBER 29, 2026: Papua New Guinea businessman Eke Lama has purchased a Cessna 208B Caravan from Tropicair for PGK4 million (USD880,000). The aircraft will be managed by Helifix, along with a Bell 707 helicopter acquired in 2023. Both will operate under the LAMA Aviation brand.

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Former Regional Express Chairman and CEO Lim Kai Hai

OCTOBER 28, 2026. PAPUA NEW GUINEA

PNG report details Twin Otter’s loss of nose wheel during take-off 

Papua New Guinea investigators found that a wet, slippery runway, inadequate drainage and perimeter fence entanglement caused a Tropicair DHC-6 300 Twin Otter to lose directional control and its nose wheel during take-off at Tapini in January 2026. The aircraft went on to make an emergency landing at Port Moresby. 

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November 2026 News Briefs

 

NOVEMBER 2, 2026: The New South Wales State Government will spend AUD64 million to build new aeromedical helicopter bases at Moruya (MYA), Wagga Wagga (WGA) and Port Macquarie (PQQ) Airports. Construction is due to start next year. They will add to existing bases at Bankstown (Sydney), Wollongong, Orange, Belmont (Newcastle), Lismore and Tamworth. The NSW Ambulance’s aeromedical fleet comprises 13 helicopters.

Read the news release here.

NOVEMBER 2, 2026: Nautilus Aviation will cease helicopter operations to and from the Cairns Esplanade after 25 years.  Nautilus CEO Aaron Finn says restricting Cairns ops to Cairns Airport (CNS) will save the business around 800 flight hours and AUD1 million annually. Nautilus has been operating up to 12 daily flights from the city centre pontoon.

See the news report here.

NOVEMBER 2, 2026: FlyPelican will shift from Sydney Airport’s Terminal 3 to Terminal 2, effective November 4.

Read the news release here.

NOVEMBER 2, 2026: Papua New Guinea’s National Airports Corporation says runway upgrade work at Mount Hagen Airport (HGU) has “progressed steadily” and the available runway length has been extended to 1,190 metres, up from 980 metres in September. Work on the remaining 1,000 metres is underway and the NAC says it hopes to have the entire 2,190-metre runway length available to use by the end of the year.

Read the news release here.

NOVEMBER 2, 2026: New Zealand charter and aeromedical carrier Air Whanganui has appointed Andy Mudway as its new chief executive officer.

Read the news report here.

NOVEMBER 2, 2026: The Qantas Group has completed its DHC-8-Q400 fleet renewal programme, having recently ferried in the last of 12 mid-life Q400s acquired from WestJet’s Encore. VH-84H (msn 4466) commenced revenue service on October 28 after flying to Australia in mid-October. Qantas Group subsidiary Sunstate Airlines operates forty-three Q400s in QantasLink branding.

Read the news release here.

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Three Virgin Australia aircraft at Sydney Airport

OCTOBER 28, 2026. VANUATU

Air Vanuatu issues RFP for second ATR, government eyes jets ow 

Air Vanuatu has issued an RFP for a pre-owned ATR72-600, seeking delivery by March 2027. The aircraft will be used to bolster domestic flights and support planned regional services. It comes as the government weighs further Twin Otter acquisitions and targets a return to jet operations around 2030.

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Air New Zealand A320-200N

OCTOBER 27, 2026. AUSTRALIA/NEW ZEALAND

Air New Zealand reports strong Australian demand as WSI flights start  

Air New Zealand says Australian demand remains strong despite local economic pressures, as it launches flights to Western Sydney Airport. The airline is targeting expatriate New Zealanders and leisure travellers, with COO Kate Boyer reporting buoyant bookings and strong demand for upcoming Christchurch – Perth services.

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November 2026 Aircraft Movements


NOVEMBER 2, 2026: Air New Zealand has ferried in its sixteenth B787-9. The aircraft, ZK-NZS (msn 66903), flew from San Antonio (SKF) to Auckland (AKL) over October 30 -31. It is the second of a batch of ten new B787s ordered by the airline, adding to the existing fourteen B787-9s operated by the carrier.

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OCTOBER 27, 2026. FRENCH POLYNESIA

Air Tahiti says most passengers flying despite strike action 

Air Tahiti says 95% of passengers travelled on October 23, the most disruptive day of its ongoing strike, despite around 25% all flights been cancelled on the day. Unions are maintaining industrial action into this week, demanding the state-owned airline address pay, working conditions, staffing and safety concerns.

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Qatar Airways A350-1000

OCTOBER 26, 2026. AUSTRALIA

CEO says Qatar Airways would fly to WSI, even if no incentives offered 

The CEO of Qatar Airways says his airline would have launched flights to Western Sydney Airport even if government hadn’t offered incentives. Hamad Al-Khater says the airport’s large catchment population is a big drawcard. The airline intends to begin thrice-weekly services to WSI in December 2027.

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October 2026 Route Briefs


OCTOBER 30, 2026: American Airlines has resumed its B787-9 operated seasonal Dallas Fort Worth (DFW) – Brisbane (BNE) round-trips, effective October 27.  The flights, operating three to five times weekly until December 1, then increase to daily until February 28, \ before settling back to thrice weekly until March 27.

OCTOBER 30, 2026: Air New Zealand will launch seasonal Christchurch (CHC) – Denpasar (DPS) over the 2027 southern winter season, although specific operating details are yet to be announced.

OCTOBER 30, 2026: Air New Zealand says its newly launched B787-9 round trips between Christchurch (CHC) and Singapore (SIN) will operate year round rather than seasonal, as previously announced.

OCTOBER 29, 2026: Jetstar has resumed four times weekly A320-200 operated Sydney (SYD) – Christchurch (CHC) round-trips, effective October 28. Jetstar last flew the route in 2018.

OCTOBER 28, 2026: Delta Air Lines is resuming is seasonal A350-900 operated Los Angeles (LAX) – Brisbane (BNE) round-trips, effective today, October 28. The flights run through March 26, 2027.

OCTOBER 28, 2026: Jetstar has started thrice-weekly A321-200NX operated Perth (PER) – Christchurch (CHC) round-trips, effective October 27.

OCTOBER 28, 2026: Jetstar has resumed its seasonal A320-200 operated Newcastle/Williamtown (NTL) – Hobart (HBA) round-trips, effective October 27. The flights run through April 24, 2027.

OCTOBER 27, 2026: Philippine Airlines resumed its twice-weekly A321-200 operated Manila (MNL) – Saipan (SPN) round-trips on October 26 after suspending them due to infrastructure damage at Saipan Airport resulting from Typhoon Sinlaku in April.

OCTOBER 27, 2026: All Nippon Airways (ANA) has resumed its seasonal B787-9 operated Tokyo (NRT) – Perth (PER) round-trips, effective October 25, increasing frequencies from thrice weekly to daily services following the success of last year's seasonal flights. ANA’s Perth flights operate through March 27, 2027.

OCTOBER 26, 2026: The first Finnair scheduled flight to Melbourne (MEL) lands today. The daily Helsinki (HEL) to Melbourne via Bangkok (BKK) round trips will be operated by an A350-900.

OCTOBER 23, 2026: Fiji Airways will increase its thrice weekly B737-8/800 operated Nadi (NAN) – Christchurch (CHC) round-trips to five per week, effective March 29, 2027.

OCTOBER 21, 2026: Fiji Airways will add a third weekly A330-200-operated Nadi (NAN) – Singapore (SIN) round-trip, effective March 29, 2027.

OCTOBER 21, 2026: Qatar Airways will launch thrice-weekly B777-300ER operated round-trips between Doha (DOH) and Western Sydney (WSI) on December 15, 2027.

OCTOBER 21, 2026: Alaska Airlines will launch thrice-weekly A330-200 operated Seattle (SEA) – Papeete (PPT) flights on June 11, 2027.

OCTOBER 20, 2026: Qantas will expand its code share partnership with oneworld partner Cathay Pacific, adding its QF flight designator to Cathay Pacific operated flights between Hong Kong (HKG) - Brisbane (BNE), Hong Kong - Adelaide (ADL), Hong Kong - Dhaka (DAC), Hong Kong - Manila (MNL), and Hong Kong - Kathmandu (KTM), effective October 25, 2026.

OCTOBER 20, 2026: Cebu Pacific will temporarily trim its Australia flights, cutting its Manila (MNL) – Melbourne (MEL) round-trips from five to three per week between October 30 and November 22, 2026, and reducing its Manila – Sydney (SYD) round-trips from seven to three per week between November 2 – 29, 2026.

OCTOBER 19, 2026: Qantas will continue to operate its Perth (PER) to London (LHR) flights (QF209) via Singapore (SIN) until at least January 31, 2027, amid ongoing airspace closures and conflicts in the Gulf region. London – Perth flights will continue to operate nonstop.

OCTOBER 19, 2026: Qantas will continue to operate its Sydney (PER) to Paris (CDG) flights (QF255) via Singapore (SIN) until at least January 31, 2027, amid ongoing airspace closures and conflicts in the Gulf region. The Paris to Sydney service (QF34) continues to operate via Perth (PER).

OCTOBER 16, 2026: Qatar Airways will reduce its A350-900-operated Doha (DOH) – Adelaide (ADL) round-trips from seven to five per week, effective December 9, 2026.

OCTOBER 16, 2026: Shenzhen Airlines will add a fifth weekly A330-300 operated round-trip on the Shenzhen (SZX) – Sydney (SYD) city-pair, effective December 14, 2026.

OCTOBER 15, 2026: Eastern Air Services is resuming its seasonal Piper Chieftain 350-operated Newcastle/Williamtown (NTL) – Lord Howe Island (LDH) round trips, effective October 23, 2026.

OCTOBER 14, 2026: Regional Express (REX) will suspend its Sydney (SYD) to Port Macquarie (PQQ) and Sydney to Orange (OAG) services effective October 25, 2026. The airline says the environment of entrenched high fuel prices driven by the ongoing conflict in the Middle East, together with lack of demand, make the routes commercially unviable.

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