JULY 27, 2026. PAPUA NEW GUINEA

Mining company takes on Papua New Guinea’s Misima Airport

Misima Airport (MIS) is set to reopen to commercial flights after Misima Minerals signed a MOU to operate the airport and upgrade its runway. The project forms part of Ok Tedi's rehabilitation of the Misima gold mine and will improve air access for local communities and the mining operation.

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JULY 27, 2026. AUSTRALIA

Qantas to base some A350-1000s at Melbourne Airport

Qantas will base some of its future Airbus A350-1000s in Melbourne under a new commercial agreement with Melbourne Airport. The deal also supports the airport's international expansion and planned third runway, paving the way for new long-haul routes and future growth.

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  • US authorities lift restrictions on Guam’s commuter airline

    JULY 24, 2026: Micronesian Air Connection Services (MACS) has had the restrictions on its Part 135 commuter authorisation lifted, allowing it to expand scheduled services across the Northern Mariana Islands. The commuter airline also plans to introduce two GippsAero GA8 Airvans alongside its Cessna Grand Caravans.

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  • China Eastern to double Auckland – Buenos Aires flights

    JULY 24, 2026: China Eastern Airlines will double its Auckland – Buenos Aires fifth freedom service to four weekly flights from December 2026, following strong passenger and cargo demand. The expansion strengthens links between China, New Zealand and South America.

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  • Qatar Airways to fly Melbourne – Auckland over 2026/27 summer

    JULY 23, 2026: Qatar Airways will shift its fifth freedom Auckland flights from Adelaide to Melbourne this summer, giving Victorians a new trans-Tasman option. The airline has also upgraded its resuming Canberra services from four times weekly to daily flights.

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  • VARA’s E190s fan out onto Western Australia RPT routes

    JULY 23, 2026: Virgin Australia Regional Airlines (VARA) is now operating its E190-E2s on all but one of its regular passenger transport (RPT) routes within Western Australia. The regional jets are now covering almost 20% of all scheduled RPT flights within the state.

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July 2026 News Briefs

JULY 27, 2026: Texel Air Australasia has appointed Peter Sheehan to the newly created role of managing director, effective July 22, 2026. Sheehan was most recently a senior project director at Sydney Airport.

Read the news release here.

JULY 27, 2026: Virgin Australia has secured a sustainability linked loan from Crédit Agricole CIB and BNP Paribas to help finance nine B737-8 aircraft in the airline’s existing pipeline, with four already delivered.

Read the news release here.

JULY 27, 2026: The Australian Competition and Consumer Commission has issued a draft determination proposing to grant authorisation for Singapore Airlines and All Nippon Airways to coordinate some aspects of their operations between Australia and Japan, and some other countries, under a joint venture agreement. The ACCC proposes to grant authorisation for 5 years.

Read the news release here.

JULY 27, 2026: Adelaide Airport (ADL) achieved its busiest year on record for the 12 months to June 30, 2026. International passenger numbers increased by 20.2% to 1,240,585 while domestic and regional numbers increased by 2.8% to 7,913,973, for a total of 9,154,55 passenger movements.

Read the news release here.

JULY 24, 2026: An Airbus A350-1000ULR is expected to land at Melbourne (MEL) mid-morning on June 24 (local time), having flown nonstop from Toulouse (TLS) as part of pre delivery flight testing ahead of Qantas starting its Project Sunrise services in 2027.

Follow the flight tracking here.

JULY 24, 2026: Papua New Guinea PM says his government is pursuing stronger aviation links and direct flight connections with Indonesia, Korea, China, and the UAE. PM James Marape says the links will improve trade, investment, and economic co-operation between the countries.

Read the news report here.

JULY 22, 2026: Unserviceable fuel trucks in Naoero are disrupting flights passing through Yaren Airport (INU). Nauru Airlines is warning “ongoing operational limitations” may cause delays, schedule changes or cancellations this week and warns passengers with time-sensitive plans to make alternative arrangements.

Read the news release here.

JULY 21, 2026: Papua New Guinea’s National Airports Corporation says airside works under method of work plan stages one to seven at Hoskins Airport (HKN) have been completed, and stage eight commenced on June 23, 2026, following CASA PNG approval. The current available runway length is 1,090 metres, allowing operations by DHC-8-300, ATR-42 and smaller aircraft only.

Read the news release here.

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.

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JULY 22, 2026. FRENCH POLYNESIA

Motu Link Airline in strife as sole ATR grounded

Motu Link Airlines has suspended flights after its only ATR72-500 suffered nose landing gear damage during a ground handling incident. The aircraft has been grounded since June 25, leaving the French Polynesian start-up facing mounting repair costs and significant lost revenue.

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JULY 21, 2026. WESTERN SAMOA

Second Samoa Airways Twin Otter overhaul completed

Samoa Airways has received back its second refurbished Twin Otter to service after a major overhaul in Canada expected to extend the aircraft's life by 30 years. This comes as the airline faces uncertainty over its internal American Samoa operations and the Samoan Government considers launching a new international carrier.

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July 2026 Aircraft Movements

JULY 27, 2026: The Qantas Group is ferrying its thirteenth A220-300 to Australia. The aircraft, VH-X4M (msn 55458), is enroute to Australia at the time of publication and expect to arrive in Canberra (CBR) on July 29. The jet will be operated by Qantas Group subsidiary National Jet Systems and wears QantasLink livery.

JULY 21, 2026: A mid-life A330-300 purchased by Qantas from Finnair is enroute to Brisbane (BNE). VH-QPM (msn 1007) departed Los Angeles (LAX) on July 19 and is expected in Brisbane later on July 21.

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 21, 2026. AUSTRALIA

Hinterland Aviation details SkyCourier launch plans

Hinterland Aviation plans to introduce Australia's first Cessna 408 SkyCouriers into service in early 2027, boosting capacity on its Cape York routes. The airline will also shift its Cairns operations to the airport's main domestic terminal to coincide with the aircraft's arrival.

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July 2026 Route Briefs

JULY 27, 2026: Singapore Airlines will operate 12 weekly Singapore (SIN) – Adelaide (ADL) round-trips year round, effective October 25, 2026. The airline will run twice-daily return flights every day except Tuesdays and Wednesdays.

JULY 27, 2026: Air Niugini will swap out the B767-300ER operating one of its two weekly Port Moresby (POM) – Tokyo Narita (NRT) round-trips for a B737-800 between July 25 and September 16, 2026. During the period, a B737-800 will operate both weekly services.

JULY 27, 2026: Link Airways will operate its twice-weekly seasonal Saab 340-operated Canberra (CBR) – Coffs Harbour (CFS) round-trips between September 10, 2026, and January 10, 2027.

JULY 27, 2026: Sharp Airlines had added a fourth weekly Fairchild Metroliner King Island (KNS) – Launceston (LST) round-trip, with immediate effect.

JULY 27, 2026: Aircalin is increasing its A320-200N-operated Noumea (NOU) – Hihifo/Wallis Island (WLS) round-trips from two to three per week, effective September 21, 2026.

JULY 27, 2026: Aircalin is resuming A320-200-operated Noumea (NOU) – Port Vila (VLI) round-trips on October 10, 2026, having suspended flights in 2024.

JULY 24, 2026: China Airlines will increase its A350-900-operated Sydney (SYD) - Taipei (TPE) round-trips from five weekly flights to daily from October 25, 2026.

JULY 24, 2026: Air New Zealand will increase its four-times weekly B777-300ER-operated Auckland (AKL) – Taipei (TPE) round-trips to six per week between January 5 – 24, 2027, and daily round-trips between January 25 – February 21, 2027. However, the airline will use a B787-9 on the city-pair between January 7 – February 28, 2027, rather than the B777-300ER.

JULY 24, 2026: SriLankan Airlines will delay increasing weekly round-trips on the Colombo (CMB) – Melbourne (MEL) city-pair until November 15, 2026. The airline had previously said it would increase weekly round-trips from seven to ten on August 2.

JULY 23, 2026: United Airlines will reduce its daily Brisbane (BNE) - San Francisco (SFO) round-trips to five times-weekly between October 27 – December 1, 2026, and January 12 – 26, 2027.

JULY 22, 2026: Air Niugini will add a fourth weekly A220-300 operated Port Moresby (POM) – Sydney (SYD) round-trip, effective October 30, 2026.

JULY 22, 2026: Qantas will increase weekly round-trips on A380-800 operated Sydney (SYD) – Johannesburg (JNB) route from four to five between December 15, 2026, and February 1, 2027.

JULY 21, 2026: Belair has commenced scheduled flights to the newly opened Lopeni Airport (NVSY) on South Epi Island. The airport is serviced as part of a Port Vila (VLI) - Tongoa (TGH) – Port Vila rotation.

JULY 21, 2026: Air Chathams has increased frequencies on the Auckland (AKL) - Whakatane (WHK) route after almost halving weekly frequencies in April. The airline has added an additional three weekly round-trips.

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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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