MAY 7, 2026. MARSHALL ISLANDS

Air Marshall Islands receives first Cessna SkyCourier

Air Marshall Islands has received its first Cessna SkyCourier, marking the start of a fleet upgrade aimed at improving reliability, cargo capacity and connectivity across the Marshall Islands’ remote atolls.

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MAY 6, 2026. AUSTRALIA

Firefighting aircraft near miss blamed on miscommunication

An Australian Transport Safety Bureau report found a misunderstanding and poor situational awareness led two firefighting aircraft to come dangerously close to each other during bushfire operations in January.

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MAY 5, 2026. PAPUA NEW GUINEA

Air Niugini firms up Tokyo flights, delays Auckland

Air Niugini will launch twice-weekly Port Moresby - Tokyo flights on July 18 but has delayed its planned Auckland service until September. The airline hasn’t regularly flown to Tokyo since 2020 and has not ventured south to Auckland since 1998.

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MAY 4, 2026. NEW CALEDONIA

Loyalty Islands airport blockades enter third month

Airport blockades across New Caledonia’s Loyalty Islands have now entered their third month, keeping many Air Calédonie flights grounded and increasing the risk of the airline’s liquidation and further isolating local communities.

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MAY 4, 2026. FIJI

Work starts on upgrade of Fiji’s Nausori Airport

Fiji Airports has begun a FJD64 million upgrade of Suva’s Nausori Airport, including a new terminal and runway works. The project aims to boost capacity, support tourism growth, and improve connectivity.

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  • Air New Zealand cuts more regional flights as fuel costs rise

    MAY 1, 2026: Air New Zealand is extending regional flight cuts to late July as rising fuel costs drive more capacity reductions. Dozens of extra flights are cancelled, with Nelson and Tauranga services among the most impacted.

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  • Australia’s Skytrans ferries out A319, one jet left in fleet

    MAY 1, 2026: Australia’s Skytrans has ferried out an A319-100, whittling its jet fleet down to a single aircraft. Owner Avia Solutions Group says it is aligning its ACMI capacity to local demand and seasonal conditions.

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  • ATSB: Fatigue crack behind Qantas B737 CFM engine failure

    APRIL 30, 2026: A final report released yesterday by the ATSB found a fatigue crack in a high-pressure turbine blade inside a CFM engine was behind a Qantas B737-800 engine failure during take-off in Sydney in November 2024.

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  • New Zealand to fast-track sweeping aviation rule reforms

    APRIL 30, 2026: New Zealand will fast-track aviation reforms that target aircraft operations and airports, updating security, licensing and maintenance rules, while cutting red tape to boost safety, efficiency and capacity.

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May 2026 News Briefs

MAY 7, 2026: The Australian Airports Association has welcomed the Federal Government’s announcement of new measures to strengthen Australia’s fuel security ahead of next week’s budget. The package includes extending the minimum stockholding obligation for jet fuel to 50 days, providing a greater supply buffer for the aviation sector during periods of international disruption.

Read the news release here.

MAY 6, 2026: New Zealand’s Origin Air will continue flying between Westport and Wellington until mid-June after coming a short-term arrangement with Buller District Council. The airline had earlier warned it would axe the loss making service on May 1.

Read the news report here.

MAY 6, 2026: Papua New Guinea’s National Airports Corporation says work on the upgrade of Keita/Aropa Airport (KIE) is over half complete. However, as the final tranches of work start, the airport’s runway will be cut to 365 metres between May 6 and September 18, 2026.

Read the news release here.

MAY 4, 2026: Air New Zealand has released its March 2026 traffic data showing overall capacity increased by 4.1% compared to March 2025. Long-haul available seat kilometres rose 2.5%, while domestic capacity grew 3.4%, supported by two additional A321 aircraft in operation compared to March last year.

Read the news release here.

MAY 4, 2026: The Australian Government has secured two shipments of jet fuel totalling 100 million litres. The shipments are in addition to the eight shipments previouslt announced in partnership with BP Australia, Ampol, and Viva Energy.

Read the news release here.

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APRIL 29, 2026. TONGA

Nose gear fails on Forum Fishing Agency King Air B200

The nose gear of a King Air B200 operated by the Technology Service Corporation on behalf of the Forum Fisheries Agency collapsed on or after landing at Nukuʻalofa’s Fuaʻamotu Airport on April 24, 2026.

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APRIL 29, 2026. AUSTRALIA

Emirates ups Southwest Pacific flights, returns to Adelaide

Emirates is increasing flights to Australia and New Zealand, including returning to Adelaide, as it rebuilds its network amid ongoing Gulf unrest. However, services remain well below pre-conflict levels.

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May 2026 Aircraft Movements

MAY 6, 2026: An Alliance Airlines F100 has departed Australia on a delivery flight to Kenya’s Skyward Airlines. The aircraft, VH-FSQ (msn 11450) left Perth (PER) on May 3 and at the of publication, had landed in Sofia (SOF) after travelling via Port Hedland (PHE), Johor Bahru (JHB), Bengaluru (BLR), Al Ain (AAN), and Hurghada (HRG).

MAY 5, 2026: PNG Air is ferrying in an ATR42-600. The aircraft, P2-ATU (msn 1804) is due to depart Toulouse (QYF) for Heraklion (HER) on May 5, enroute to Port Moresby. The delivery is one of several new ATR aircraft already at or heading to PNG Air as part of a fleet renewal programme.

MAY 4, 2026: Jetstar has returned an A320-200 to the lessor, SMBC. The aircraft, VH YXQ (msn 5618) ferried out of Melbourne (MEL) for Tainan (TNN) via Alice Springs (ASP) and Darwin (DRW) on over the week starting April 25.

MAY 1, 2026: Qantas is ferrying in its sixth A321-200XLR. VH-OGF (msn 12835) departed Hamburg (XFW) for Sydney (SYD) via Bengaluru (BLR) on April 30. It is due to land in Australia early on May 2.

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APRIL 28, 2026. VANUATU

Vanuatu prime minister flags major aviation sector reform

Vanuatu’s PM says its aviation sector, including Air Vanuatu, needs reform after a review found poor planning and ageing aircraft. The government wants to restore reliability, cut costs and rebuild confidence.

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May 2026 Route Briefs

MAY 4, 2026: Nauru Airlines will resume its weekly B737-800 operated Tarawa (TRW) – Kiritimati (CXI) round-trips operated on behalf of Air Kiribati on May 6.

MAY 4, 2026: Qantas is suspending its six weekly A330-200 operated Sydney (SYD) - Bengaluru (BLR) round-trips on August 6. The airline currently plans to resume flights on the route on October 25.

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Qatar Airways B777

APRIL 27, 2026. NEW ZEALAND

Qatar Airways returning to Auckland in June – via Adelaide

Qatar Airways will resume Auckland flights via Adelaide on mid-June as it rebuilds operations impacted by the Iran conflict. Its other Southwest Pacific services are also gradually returning  to normal despite ongoing uncertainty.

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