APRIL 3, 2026. AUSTRALIA
Gov’t funding backing Air New Zealand’s Western Sydney flights
Government funding has helped lock in Air New Zealand flights to Western Sydney Airport (WSI). The kiwi carrier has set October 26, 2026, as the start date for thrice-weekly narrowbody flights between Auckland (AKL) and the new airport.
APRIL 2, 2026. AUSTRALIA
New laws to tackle Australia’s aviation complaints process
The Australian Government is seeking to appease both the aviation industry and passengers with new laws that will seek to streamline the consumer complaints process while not over-burdening the industry.
APRIL 2, 2026. PAPUA NEW GUINEA
Gurney Airport’s terminal upgrade nears completion
Papua New Guinea’s National Airport Corporation (NAC) says work on the new terminal building at Gurney Airport (GUR) is almost three quarters complete. The NAC says the work should be completed by August 2026.
APRIL 1, 2026. FIJI
Fiji Airways releases 2024 report, posts after tax loss
Fiji Airways has released its annual report for calendar 2024, revealing an after-tax loss of FJD25 million despite record operating revenues. The airline attributes the loss to increased operating costs, yield pressures, and foreign exchange volatility.
APRIL 1, 2026. PAPUA NEW GUINEA
Air Niugini deploys A220-300 onto international routes
Air Niugini has started flying its A220-300s outside Papua New Guinea. The airline deployed the aircraft onto the Port Moresby (POM) – Cairns (CNS) route last week and the Port Moresby – Sydney (SYD) city-pair earlier this week.
MARCH 31, 2026. AUSTRALIA / NEW ZEALAND
Air New Zealand ends seasonal Hobart flights, restarts Cairns
Air New Zealand is making its traditional seasonal adjustments to flights to secondary airports along Australia’s east coast. Among the changes this week are the end of seasonal Auckland – Hobart flights and the start of seasonal Auckland – Cairns services.
MARCH 30, 2026. AUSTRALIA
Qantas ending wet-leased Finnair A330-300 ops
Qantas is ending its use of wet-leased Finnair A330-330s. The airline has now transitioned to dry-lease only arrangements with its Finnish partner. Qantas wet-leased the planes to ease an in-house capacity shortfall and used them to fly from Sydney to Singapore and Bangkok.
MARCH 30, 2026. NEW CALEDONIA
Airport blockades force Air Calédonie to file for bankruptcy
A last-minute agreement to lift an airport blockade has failed to stop New Caledonia's domestic airline Air Calédonie from filing for bankruptcy. Air Calédonie’s directors made the decision during a March 27 board meeting.
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.
MARCH 25, 2026. AUSTRALIA
Singapore Airlines firms up Western Sydney Airport flights
Singapore Airlines has set a start date for flights to Western Sydney Airport. In a March 24, 2026, statement, the airline said it would begin daily A350-900 flights from Singapore on November 23, 2026.
MARCH 24, 2026. AUSTRALIA
Virgin Australia domestic market share leader in early 2026
Virgin Australia enjoyed a rare victory over Qantas in January, having a larger Australian domestic market share in January 2026, according to the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission's latest quarterly report.
April 2026 Aircraft Movements
MARCH 23, 2026. AUSTRALIA
Qatar Airways ferries four B777s to Brisbane
Qatar Airways ferried four aircraft to Brisbane (BNE) over the weekend as hostilities in the Gulf region continue to impact the airline’s operations. Two B777-300ERs flew in from Perth (PER) and one each from Melbourne (MEL) and Sydney (SYD).
MARCH 20, 2026. NEW CALEDONIA
Air Calédonie mulls receivership as blockades continue
Air Calédonie has around two weeks’ worth of cash left and is losing XPF10 million (USD96,000) per day after protestors began blockading airports in early March, forcing carrier to suspend its domestic flights and consider entering into receivership.