JULY 20, 2026. NAURU

Nauru Airlines officials jet to China for talks

Nauru Airlines is exploring partnership and investment opportunities with China after a delegation of the airline's senior officials recently travelled to the country for talks. The visit comes as the Naoero Government looks to strengthen the carrier's role in the Southwest Pacific.

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JULY 20, 2026. PAPUA NEW GUINEA / NEW ZEALAND

Air Niugini locks in Auckland flights, mid-Q4 2026 start

Air Niugini has confirmed it will resume nonstop flights between Port Moresby and Auckland from November 17, 2026, ending a 28-year absence from the route. The airline says the new service will strengthen trade, tourism and regional connectivity while supporting its ambition to grow Port Moresby as a Pacific hub.

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Origin Air Jetstream 32 on apron at Wellington Airport

  • Perth Airport sets new annual passenger traffic record

    JULY 17, 2026: Perth Airport has recorded its busiest year ever, handling more than 18.3 million passengers in the 12 months to June 30, 2026. Strong international growth, rising FIFO demand and new airline services helped drive the record result

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  • Fiji Airways seeks full complement of US market rights

    JULY 17, 2026: Fiji Airways is seeking expanded operating rights in the United States following the ratification of a new bilateral air services agreement. The carrier says greater flexibility will support future growth, strengthen codeshare partnerships and create additional travel and freight opportunities between the US and the South Pacific.

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  • Hong Kong Airlines returns to Saipan after typhoon

    JULY 16, 2026: Hong Kong Airlines has resumed twice-weekly flights to Saipan, becoming the second international carrier to restore services after Typhoon Sinlaku. The airline is one of several planning a return to Saipan as the US territory attempts to rebuild its tourism industry.

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  • Triple daily Qatar B777 flights into Sydney this summer

    JULY 15, 2026: Qatar Airways and Virgin Australia will introduce a third daily Sydney – Doha service from December and reduce Brisbane and Perth frequencies. The new flights will operate under Virgin Australia's flight numbers using Qatar Airways-operated aircraft, highlighting how the partnership continues to maximise air service rights.

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July 2026 News Briefs

JULY 20, 2026: A ministerial reshuffle in Papua New Guinea has seen Douglas Tomuriesa appointed as the country’s new aviation minister, replacing Wake Goi, who has served in the role since March 2025. The handover ceremony takes place this week.

Read the news report here.

JULY 20, 2026: Fiji Airways is exploring whether high-integrity carbon projects developed within Fiji will allow it to offset emissions on eligible international routes under the Carbon Offsetting and Reduction Scheme for International Aviation (CORSIA).

Read the news release here.

JULY 20, 2026:  Air New Zealand operated 12,279 flights across its network in June with 86% of flights arriving within 15 minutes of schedule. The airline also improved its performance in cancellations with only 0.7% within the airline's control, down from 1.7% in June last year. While total cancellations increased to 3.3% of scheduled flights during June, these were primarily caused by factors outside the airline's control including severe weather and disruption caused by the fire at Wellington Airport. 

Read the news release here.

JULY 17, 2026: Vanuatu’s Deputy Prime Minister Johnny Koanapo says a DHC-6-300 due to be delivered to Air Vanuatu in the first quarter of 2026 will now arrive at the end of July. The used aircraft, one of two Twin Otters acquired by the Vanuatu Government to support Air Vanuatu operations, reportedly cost USD3.77 million each.

Read the news report here.

JULY 17, 2026: Minister for Nauru Air Corporation Asterio Appi has taken a Nauru Airlines delegation to China to identify partnership and investment opportunities that will help improve the airlines' network and its operational capability.

Read the news release here.

JULY 17, 2026: Perth Airport (PER) has appointed global aviation fuel services provider Skytanking Australia Pty Ltd to operate and maintain its jet fuel infrastructure facilities, following a competitive tender process. The five year plus year contract will commence in August, with Skytanking responsible for the operation and maintenance of the airport’s fuel storage and distribution network.

Read the news release here.

JULY 16, 2026: Air New Zealand has released its initial timeline for its previously disclosed plans to retrofit its B777-300ER fleet. The first refurbishment is due for completion in March 2027 with re-entry into service scheduled for May. The retrofitted aircraft will retain their 342-passenger capacity although there will be small tweaks to the premium economy and economy class cabin capacities,

Read the news release here.

JULY 16, 2026: Queenstown Airport (ZQN) has started work on its new heavy taxiway as part of a NZD65 million airport upgrade that will also include a complete overlay of the main runway. Other work includes an expansion and upgrade of the airport terminal, redevelopment of the public areas around the terminal, new baggage handling facilities, and a new head office building.

Read the news release here.

JULY 16, 2026: The Qantas Group has tapped Star Aviation to provide ground handling services for Qantas and Jetstar flights at Western Sydney Airport (WSI) when flights start in late October. The ground handling company is also operating the new Qantas Freight cargo terminal at WSI when it starts accepting flights later this month.

Read the news release here.

JULY 16, 2026: Queenstown Airport (ZQN) has appointed experienced infrastructure and capital delivery specialist Mike Simmers to the newly created Chief of Infrastructure role. He most recently served as chief infrastructure officer at Lyttelton Port Company. Simmers starts his new job in mid-August.

Read the news release here.

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JULY 15, 2026. AUSTRALIA

United Airlines slashes 2026/27 Adelaide seasonal flights

United Airlines is trimming its 2026/27 southern summer seasonal flights to Adelaide by more than half, according to its latest schedule update. United will now run the service between December 17, 2026, and February 8, 2027, reducing the schedule to 23 return flights – a 53.1% cut to what the airline had planned to operate.

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JULY 14, 2026. PAPUA NEW GUINEA / SOLOMON ISLANDS

Solomon Airlines chases Asia growth through Port Moresby hub

Solomon Airlines is developing Port Moresby as a gateway between the Solomon Islands and Asia, signing new partnerships with Philippine Airlines and China Southern Airlines. The strategy aims to diversify the carrier's international network, reduce reliance on Brisbane and attract more visitors from fast-growing Asian markets.

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July 2026 Aircraft Movements

JULY 17, 2026: A Qantas A380-800 registered as VH-OQI (msn 055) has returned to service after a four-month heavy overhaul in Dresden (DRS). The aircraft returned to Australia on July 14 and operated QF11 to Los Angeles two days later.

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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JULY 14, 2026. AUSTRALIA

First of four freighter test flights lands at Western Sydney

Western Sydney Airport has completed its first live freight trial ahead of opening to cargo operations on July 26. Yesterday, a Qantas A321-200 freighter tested aircraft handling, ground operations and cargo systems. Another three test flights are scheduled later this week.

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July 2026 Route Briefs

JULY 20, 2026: PNG Air will start twice weekly ATR42-600 operated round-trips between Mount Hagen (HGU) and Moro (MXH) on August 10.

JULY 17, 2026: Cathay Pacific will offer around 50% more capacity on its 2026/27 seasonal Hong Kong (HKG) – Adelaide (ADL) round-trips than in the comparable 2025/27 period. The A350-900 operated flights will run between November 10, 2026, to March 27, 2027. Initially operating thrice weekly, the flights will increase to five per week during the peak December – February period.

JULY 16, 2026: Hawaiian Airlines will not operate its seasonal Honolulu (HNL) – Auckland (AKL) flights over the 2026/27 southern summer. The carrier said the suspension was part of wider network adjustments aimed at aligning flight capacity with travel demand.

JULY 16, 2026: Sharp Airlines will resume its Melbourne Essendon (MEB) – King Island (KNS) round-trips on October 1, 2026, after suspending them in early May.

JULY 16, 2026: Cathay Pacific will increase its seasonal A350-operated Hong Kong (HKG) – Christchurch (CHC) round-trips to five per week between December 26, 2026, and February 27, 2027. The airline will run thrice weekly flights over the remainder of the season, which operates from November 1, 2026, to March 27, 2027.

JULY 10, 2026: Air Niugini has confirmed that twice-weekly Port Moresby (POM) – Tokyo Narita (NRT) round-trips will restart on July 18. The service will use both B767-300ER and B737-800 aircraft.

JULY 9, 2026: China Airlines will swap the B777-300ER operating its daily Taipei (TPE) – Sydney (SYD) round-trips for a A350-900 between October 25 - December 16, 2026, and January 16 – March 27, 2027.

JULY 7, 2026: Qantas will place its QF flight designator on Air Tahiti Nui’s twice-weekly B787-9 round-trips between Sydney (SYD) and Papeete (PPT) when they commence on December 14, 2026.

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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JULY 13, 2026. AUSTRALIA

ATSB finds glideslope interference behind B767F incident

The ATSB has found glideslope signal interference contributed to a Tasman Cargo Airlines B767 freighter descending below the ILS approach path into Sydney Airport. The investigation prompted safety changes by the airline, while Boeing will introduce software updates designed to prevent similar incidents.

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