MAY 20, 2026. NEW ZEALAND

Air New Zealand widebodies to return to Christchurch

Air New Zealand’s widebody aircraft will return to Christchurch (CHC) later this year, with the airline announcing the resumption of B787-operated flights from the airport to Perth (PER), Singapore (SIN), and Tokyo Narita (NRT).

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MAY 20, 2026. NEW ZEALAND

ASL Airlines Australia to buy New Zealand’s Airwork

ASL Airlines Australia plans to buy Airwork, the New Zealand freight operator in receivership, subject to due diligence and final approvals.

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MAY 19, 2026. NEW ZEALAND

NZ authorities open investigation into fatal helicopter crash

The New Zealand Transport Accident Investigation Commission (TAIC) has commenced an inquiry into a fatal helicopter crash on the South Island on May 17, 2026.

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Air New Zealand B787-9

MAY 19, 2026. AUSTRALIA

Australia inks two new air services agreements, amends two more

The Australian Government has inked new air services agreements with the Maldives and El Salvador and updated existing agreements with Qatar and the United Arab Emirates.

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MAY 18, 2026. FRENCH POLYNESIA

Ready to fly: French Polynesia’s Motu Link Airline gets AOC

French Polynesia’s new cargo airline, Motu Link, has secured its air operator’s certificate and is preparing to launch ATR72 freighter flights linking the territory’s islands with faster air freight services.

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MAY 18, 2026. AUSTRALIA

Indonesia AirAsia axes Adelaide and Melbourne flights

Indonesia AirAsia is ending its flights to Adelaide (ADL) and Melbourne (MEL) in mid-June. The low-cost carrier says the current operating environment means the routes are no longer viable.

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  • Fuel price surge sees Air New Zealand flag FY2026 loss

    MAY 15, 2026: Air New Zealand has flagged a full-year pre-tax loss of between NZD340–390 million due to rising fuel costs. In reply, the airline will extend its capacity cuts while reducing costs “we can live without for now”.

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  • South West Pacific aviation ministers meet for RAMM4

    MAY 15, 2026: South West Pacific aviation ministers met at the Fourth Regional Aviation Ministers Meeting this week to discuss safety, connectivity, affordability, and long-term resilience across the region’s aviation sector.

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  • ATSB final report: QantasLink Q300 runway alignment incident

    MAY 14, 2026: An Australian Transport Safety Bureau report found a QantasLink Q300 struck runway edge lights at Mildura Airport in February 2025 after lining up incorrectly in pre-dawn darkness

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  • Fiji Airways and WestJet request via US codeshare rights

    MAY 13, 2026: Fiji Airways and WestJet have applied to begin code sharing on transborder US flights. The move designed to improve connections between Fiji and Canada via the United States through shared flight networks.

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May 2026 News Briefs

MAY 20, 2026: Vanuatu PM Jotham Napat has told that country’s parliament that an overdue Twin Otter is due to arrive in June. The DHC-6-400, the second of a two aircraft deal for Air Vanuatu, was originally expected to arrive in March.

Read the news report here.

MAY 20, 2026: Air Niugini CEO Alan Milne has relaunched the carrier’s Higher Altitude Program that seeks to improve service culture, operational reliability, and financial performance at the airline.

Read the news release here.

MAY 20, 2026: Aircalin will increase its ticket prices by 4% on May 20, 2026. The airline attributes the price rise to increased fuel costs.

Read the news report here.

MAY 20, 2026: The Australian Government has helped to secure three shipments of jet fuel from China, totalling more than 600,000 barrels or about 100 million litres. The fuel is expected to arrive in Australia in early June.

Read the news release here.

MAY 19, 2026: Melbourne Airport wants the Australian Government to invest the proceeds of extra tax it will collect from international travellers into improvements to Australia’s border processing facilities and technology.

Read the news release here.

MAY 18, 2026: Air Vanuatu has appointed Flavio Carvalho as its new chief commercial officer. Carvalho most recently worked for Air Vanuatu and before that, the Lufthansa Group.

Read the news release here.

MAY 18, 2026: Fiji Airways has appointed Russell Shaw as Chief Network Revenue and Alliances Officer. The Virgin Australia and Macquarie Group alumni most recently worked as Asia Pacific finance director at Civica.

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MAY 18, 2026: The New Zealand Government has fast tracked approval a NZD100 million upgrade of the existing southern seawall at Wellington Airport (WLG). The strengthened seawall will better protect the airport against coastal processes and extreme weather events, while supporting safe operations. The project has a strong estimated cost-benefit ratio of 2.6, with gross benefits of up to NZD690 million forecast.

Read the news release here.

MAY 18, 2026: Billie Moore has announced she will step down as Chief Executive of the New Zealand Airports Association at the end of July 2026. She has led the organisation since late 2022.

Read the news release here.

MAY 15, 2026: The Australian Government has appointed Greg Hughes to the Civil Aviation Safety Authority board and re-appointed Pip Spence as CEO. Hughes has been appointed for three-years and has decades of senior leadership experience in the aviation and transport sectors, with expertise in operations, governance, and strategic oversight across complex and safety critical environments.

Read the news release here.

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MAY 13, 2026. AUSTRALIA

Link Airways suspends Wollongong/Shellharbour flights

Link Airways is suspending flights from Wollongong Shellharbour Airport, citing rising fuel costs and weak demand. It leaves the airport without scheduled passenger services.

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MAY 12, 2026. PAPUA NEW GUINEA

New CASA PNG board promises to continue aviation reform

The new board of Papua New Guinea’s Civil Aviation Safety Authority will push for greater accountability and tighter compliance as it seeks to turn the agency into one of the region’s leading aviation safety regulators.

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May 2026 Aircraft Movements

MAY 11, 2026: Virgin Australia has ferried in its sixteenth B737-8. The jet, VH-8VH (msn 67038) landed in Brisbane (BNE) on May 8 having flown in from Melbourne (MLB) via Ontario (ONT) and Kailua-Kona (KOA)

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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MAY 11, 2026. AUSTRALIA

Wellington Airport reports annual profit despite passenger decline

Wellington Airport has posted a NZD15.7 million for the 12 months to March 31, 2026, profit despite falling passenger numbers, with international growth helping to offset weaker domestic traffic.

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May 2026 Route Briefs

MAY 20, 2026: Jetstar has commenced its thrice-weekly A321-200NX operated round-trips between Brisbane (BNE) and Rarotonga (RAR).

MAY 20, 2026: Maldivian has commenced its weekly A330-200 operated seasonal flights between Melbourne (MEL) and Malé (MLE) on behalf of tour operator Luxury Escapes.

MAY 18,2026: United Airlines will operate a B787-9 on its seasonal San Francisco (SFO) – Christchurch (CHC) round-trips over the full northern 2026/27summer. The airline previously planned to run a B787-8 on the route.

MAY 18, 2026: Batik Air Malaysia will increase its six weekly A330-300 operated Kuala Lumpur (KUL) – Sydney (SYD) round-trips to daily services from July 1, 2026.

MAY 15, 2026: Singapore Airlines will maintain its daily A380-800 Singapore (SIN) – Melbourne (MEL) round-trips beyond the 2026 northern summer, with the airline now scheduling the service (SQ228/237) beyond October 25, 2026.

MAY 12, 2026: Link Airways will suspend its four-times weekly Saab 340-operated Wollongong (WOL) - Brisbane (BNE) round-trips on May 18, 2026, citing increased fuel costs and reduced demand.

MAY 12, 2026: Link Airways will suspend its four-times weekly Saab 340-operated Wollongong (WOL) - Melbourne (MEL) round-trips on May 18, 2026, citing increased fuel costs and reduced demand.

MAY 11, 2026: Finnair will commence its daily A350-900 Helsinki (HEL) – Bangkok (BKK) – Melbourne (MEL) rond-trips on October 25, 2026.

MAY 8, 2026: China Southern Airlines will suspend its thrice-weekly A330-300 operated Shenzhen (SZX) – Sydney (SYD) round-trips between June 1 and September 15, 2026.

MAY 8, 2026: United Airlines plans to resume its thrice-weekly B737 operated Saipan (SPN) – Tokyo Narita (NRT) round-trips on July 12, 2026, after pausing the flights because of damage to Saipan Airport caused by the recent Typhoon Sinlaku.

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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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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