MAY 11, 2026. NEW ZEALAND

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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  • Air Marshall Islands receives first Cessna SkyCourier

    MAY 7, 2026: 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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  • Firefighting aircraft near miss blamed on miscommunication

    MAY 6, 2026: 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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  • Air Niugini firms up Tokyo flights, delays Auckland

    MAY 5, 2026: 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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  • Loyalty Islands airport blockades enter third month

    MAY 4, 2026: 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 2026 News Briefs

MAY 11, 2026: Queensland’s McDermott Aviation has mobilised a major aerial firefighting fleet to Greece ahead of the 2026 fire season. A total of 15 helicopters and around 100 specialist personnel will rotate through Greece across the six-month deployment, with aircraft positioned across 11 bases in mainland Greece and key island locations.

MAY 8, 2026: A land dispute has forced the Ministry of Communication and Aviation to ship gravel from Guadalcanal to continue the upgrade of the Atoifi/Uru Harbour Airport (ATD) in East Kwaio, Malaita Province, Solomon Islands. The airstrip upgrade will extend the runway to 1,000 metres.

Read the news report here.

MAY 8, 2026: Due to continued increases in global fuel costs and operational expenses, Nauru Airlines has imposed a fuel surcharge adjustment on some routes and fare types.

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.

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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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MAY 1, 2026. NEW ZEALAND

Air New Zealand cuts more regional flights as fuel costs rise

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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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 1, 2026. AUSTRALIA

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

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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May 2026 Route Briefs

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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APRIL 30, 2026. AUSTRALIA

ATSB: Fatigue crack behind Qantas B737 CFM engine failure

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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