SEPTEMBER 7, 2026. AUSTRALIA

ACCC plans to renew Qantas - AA joint business agreement

The ACCC intends to green light a renewed five-year joint business agreement between Qantas and American Airlines, allowing the oneworld partners to continue coordinating flights, schedules, capacity and revenue across Australia and North America.

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Asiana Airlines A380-800 inflight

SEPTEMBER 7, 2026. AUSTRALIA

One more time: Asiana’s A380 Sydney season before brand folds

Asiana will return its A380-800 to Sydney from October for the Southern Hemisphere summer, marking the final season of Asiana A380 flights to the city before the airline is integrated into Korean Air and the Asiana brand disappears off the airline map.

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  • Australian Gov't offers $25m for remote airstrip upgrades

    SEPTEMBER 3, 2026: The Australian Government has opened a new $25 million funding round to upgrade remote airstrips, while Western Australia is also offering grants for regional airports. The programs will help fund safety and accessibility improvements across remote and regional communities.

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  • Virgin Australia’s long-running B737-8 order nears completion

    SEPTEMBER 3, 2026: Virgin Australia is nearing completion of its 14-year-old B737-8 order, with its twenty-fifth aircraft expected to land in Brisbane today and the final jet due later this month. The airline has used the new MAX 8s to replace older B737-800s, expand capacity and lower operating costs.

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  • New pan-Micronesian airline proposed for Pacific Islands

    SEPTEMBER 2, 2026: A Guam-based consultancy has proposed a jointly owned pan-Micronesian airline to improve connectivity and lower fares across the region. The preliminary plan envisages jet and turboprop services linking Palau, the Federated States of Micronesia, the Marshall Islands and Kiribati.

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  • Solomon Airlines to reduce A320 fleet, shrinks int'l network

    SEPTEMBER 1, 2026: Solomon Airlines will reduce its jet fleet to a single A320-200 and scale back international flying as part of its 2027/28 fleet strategy. The carrier will also suspend some recently launched routes while focusing on strengthening its domestic network and expanding its Twin Otter fleet.

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Alliance Airlines E190-100 at Darwin Airport

September 2026 News Briefs

SEPTEMBER 7, 2026: The Solomon Islands Ministry of Communication and Aviation says its is progressing the procurement process for the Suavano Airport (VAO) upgrading works in Isabel Province. The tender has closed and a technical evaluation is now underway, to be followed by a financial evaluation per World Bank procurement procedures. Following that, the successful contractor will be identified.

Read the news report here.

SEPTEMBER 7, 2026: The Australian Transport Safety Bureau has released an interim report into the engine failure and rejected take-off of a Regional Express (REX) operated Saab 340 at Adelaide on October 8, 2025, revealing that the aircraft’s left engine failed during the take off roll.

Read the interim report here.

SEPTEMBER 4, 2026: Airports Vanuatu Limited has appointed Shalendra Maharaj as the new Chief Executive Officer for a five-year term. Maharaj, who is currently Aviation Services Manager at Newman, Marble Bar and Nullagine Airports in Australia, formally takes up the role on October 1, replacing Jason Rakau, who had held the position since 2016.

Read the news release here.

SEPTEMBER 4, 2026: Outgoing Airport Development Group CEO Tony Edmondstone will take on the CEO’s role at Maroochydore/Sunshine Coast Airport (MCY) in early 2027, replacing Chris Mills, who has previously announced that he will step down later this year.

Read the news report here.

SEPTEMBER 3, 2026: The Queensland Fire Department (QFD) will have access to 14 contracted aircraft and more than 200 additional aircraft, which are available through call-when-needed arrangement, over the upcoming 2026/27 bushfire season. During the 2025/26 bushfire period, QFD’s contracted aircraft completed 860 fire-related dispatches and accrued over 3,000 flying hours.

Read the news release here.

SEPTEMBER 2, 2026: Jetstar operated a trial A320-200N flight to Western Sydney Airport (WSI) yesterday, September 1, ahead of it beginning scheduled passenger flights on October 25. The aircraft, VH-ASC (msn 12374), which flew in from Melbourne (MEL) as JQ7990, tested the crew’s ability to navigate around the taxiways and the infrastructure as well as load and unload passengers in the terminal.

Read the news release here.

SEPTEMBER 1, 2026: The Australian Government has appointed David Fredericks as Deputy Chair of the Airservices Australia board for five years and re-appointed Nicolle Connelly as board member for four years.

Read the news release here.

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SEPTEMBER 1, 2026. TONGA

Lulutai Saab 340 landing incident triggers investigation

An investigation is underway after a Saab 340 wet-leased to Tonga’s Lulutai Airlines experienced difficulties landing at Vava’u Airport. A reweighing of onboard baggage revealed a significant weight discrepancy and revelations that undocumented baggage was loaded at the origin airport  without the flight crew’s knowledge.

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AUGUST 31, 2026. FRENCH POLYNESIA

Motu Link eyes mid-September restart, hunting for second ATR

French Polynesian start-up Motu Link Airline hopes to resume flights by mid-September after its sole ATR72-500F was damaged while been towed in June. The carrier is also seeking a second ATR72 freighter as it looks to expand its domestic network and launch international services.

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September 2026 Aircraft Movements

SEPTEMBER 4, 2026: The Qantas Group is ferrying its fifteenth A220-300 to Australia. VH-X4O (msm 55470) has left Montreal (YMX) for Vancouver (YVR) and will continue on to Australia via Honolulu (HNL) and Nadi (NAN), arriving at Canberra on September 6 (local time). The aircraft will be operated by wholly owned Qantas subsidiary National Jet Systems and is painted in QantasLink livery.

SEPTEMBER 4, 2026: The Qantas Group is readying to ferry an E190-100 to Australia. At the time of publication, VH-E9A (msm 19000250) remains at Norwich (NWI) but is expected to depart for Perth (PER) within days. The aircraft will be operated by wholly owned Qantas subsidiary Network Aviation and is painted in QantasLink livery.

SEPTEMBER 2, 2026: Virgin Australia has commenced ferrying its twenty-fifth B737-8 to Australia. VH-8VJ (msn 67043) departed Melbourne (MLB) for Brisbane (BNE) on August 31, operating via Ontario (ONT) and Kailua-Kona (KOA). It is due to land in Brisbane early afternoon (local time) on September 3.

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AUGUST 31, 2026. NEW CALEDONIA

Prosecutor warns against renewed Lifou Airport blockade

New Caledonia’s top prosecutor has warned protesters they could face criminal charges if they resume blockading Lifou Island Airport this week. The warning comes as a local traditional leaders clash over the decision to restart the blockade and battle for control of the protesters.

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September 2026 Route Briefs

SEPTEMBER 7, 2026: Korean Air will swap the B787-10 currently operating its daily Seoul (ICN) – Auckland (AKL) round-trips for an A350-900, effective December 17.

SEPTEMBER 7, 2026: Cathay Pacific will deploy a B777-300ER rather than an A350-900 on one (CX171/140) of its two daily Hong Kong (HKG) – Perth (PER) round-trips, effective October 25, 2026.

SEPTEMBER 4, 2026: Batik Air Malaysia will reduce its A330-300-operated Kuala Lumpur (KUL) – Sydney (SYD) round trips from daily flights to five per week between October 25 – December 1, 2026.

SEPTEMBER 3, 2026: Air Vanuatu will resume weekly flights between Port Vila (VLI) and Ipota (IPA) via Tanna (TAH) on September 6, 2026, using DHC-6-300 aircraft. The airline last flew to Ipota in 2024.

SEPTEMBER 3, 2026: Qantas will double its B737-800-operated services between Brisbane (BNE) and Koror (ROR) to two weekly round-trips between December 7, 2026 and March 27, 2027, after signing a new agreement with the Australian Government to keep flying to Palau.

SEPTEMBER 3, 2026: GAM Group has commenced daily C208B freighter round-trips between Emerald (EMD) and Mount Isa (ISA).

SEPTEMBER 2, 2026: Jetstar’s thrice weekly seasonal A320-200-operated Hobart (HBA) – Newcastle/Williamtown (NTL) round-trips will start on October 27, 2026, and run through April 24, 2027, providing 40% more seats compared to the 2025/26 season.

SEPTEMBER 2, 2026: Philippine Airlines will increase its five weekly A330-300 operated Manila (MNL) –
Melbourne (MEL) round-trips to daily services, effective November 19.

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Midway Atoll in the Pacific Ocean

AUGUST 28, 2026. MIDWAY ATOLL

Japan Airlines, ZIPAIR urge US Gov’t to keep Midway Atoll open  

Japan Airlines and ZIPAIR have urged the US Government to keep Midway Atoll Airport available as an ETOPS alternate, warning its loss would severely affect trans-Pacific operations. The carriers say the remote airport is critical for flights between Japan, Hawaii and mainland North America.

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AUGUST 28, 2026. AUSTRALIA

Qantas posts $1.3bn profit, speeds up A380 retirement timeline

The Qantas Group has posted an AUD1.29 billion after-tax profit despite increased fuel costs and weaker business travel. The airline also confirmed it will bring forward its first A380 retirements to FY28 as new A350s and B787s start to join the fleet.

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