JUNE 22, 2026. VANUATU

Philippe Busson appointed new CEO of Air Vanuatu

The board of Air Vanuatu has appointed Philippe Busson as the airline’s new chief executive officer. Busson most recently worked as chief strategy officer at Air Calédonie and will take up his new role on August 1, 2026.

Read more
Airbus Helicopter AS 350 BA helicopter

JUNE 22, 2026. NEW ZEALAND

TAIC report reveals inspection lapses before helicopter crash

New Zealand’s Transport Accident Investigation Commission (TAIC) has released its final report into a July 2024 incident involving an Airbus AS350 BA helicopter that collided with terrain and came to rest on its left-hand side near the Paringa River mouth on the west coast of the country’s South Island.

Get the full story

  • Adelaide and Gold Coast Airports lead domestic route growth

    JUNE 19, 2026: New ACCC data shows Australia’s domestic aviation recovery remains uneven. Adelaide and Coolangatta/Gold Coast Airports are seeing passenger growth on several key routes.

    Read more 

  • Costs spiral while Air Chathams awaits government loan

    JUNE 18, 2026: The CEO of Air Chathams says a promised $17.2 million government loan cannot arrive soon enough as rising costs, softening demand and debt from a pandemic-era fleet renewal continue to strain the regional airline.

    Get the full story 

  • Qantas sets October 2027 start date for Project Sunrise

    JUNE 18, 2026: Qantas will launch its long-awaited Sydney – London Project Sunrise flights in October 2027, although it has not specified an exact start date or flight frequencies. However, it will need at least three A350ULRs to operate daily services.

    Read more 

  • Samoan PM presses on with long-haul airline revival plan

    JUNE 17, 2026: The Government of Samoa is persisting in its quixotic quest to relaunch Samoa Airways as a fully-fledged international carrier, despite warnings that doing so could prove a financial disaster.

    Get the full story 
1 4

June 2026 News Briefs

JUNE 22, 2026: A fully loaded Air New Zealand A320-200 registered as ZK-OJS (msn 04926) became “stuck in the mud” at Christchurch Airport (CHC) early on June 21 after its main landing gear veered onto the grass area beside the taxiway during the pushback procedure. ZK-OJS was pulled off the grass overnight. The aircraft was operating NZ582 to Auckland (AKL).

Read the news report here.

JUNE 22, 2026: Wendy Bowden has been appointed the new chief executive officer of Nauru Airlines, replacing interim CEO Robert Eoe. Bowden was chief financial officer at Nauru Airlines between 2010 and 2018 but was most recently financial controller at Alliance Airlines. Bowden took up the role in May.

Read the news report here.

JUNE 22, 2026: The president of the New Zealand Fiji Business Council has called for the resumption of flights from Suva’s Nausori Airport (SUV) to Australia and New Zealand. Chandar Sen told a conference in Fiji last week that carriers such as Fiji Airways, Air New Zealand and Qantas should respond to commercial demand rather than waiting for ideal airport conditions.

Read the news report here.

JUNE 19, 2026: New Caledonia’s Air Oceania will suspend flights to and from Nouméa’s Magenta Airport (GEA) due to a shortage of AVGAS fuel stock. The airline says flights will restart as soon as fuel becomes available at the airport once again.

Read the news release here.

JUNE 19, 2026: Christchurch Airport (CHC) has officially opened its new NZD40 million freight apron. Covering an area larger than six rugby pitches, the apron includes more than 11 kilometres of underground services. The new apron expands the airport's freight handling capacity and flexibility, helping meet growing demand from freight operators while creating room for future growth. 

Read the news release here.

JUNE 19, 2026: Air New Zealand has released its monthly investor update, saying that in May 2026, group capacity decreased 0.1% compared to May 2025. Long haul capacity fell by 1.3% while domestic capacity rose by 2.9%, largely due to two additional A321s. International short haul capacity also increased by 1.6% on the back to two additional A321s. However, all this was partly offset by targeted capacity reductions in the first half of calendar 2026.

Read the stock exchange filing here.

JUNE 18, 2026: The Australian Government has approved the Brisbane Airport Master Plan 2026, which outlines how Brisbane Airport will develop its land use over the next two decades. The plan also explores improved transport access to accommodate significant passenger growth, with the airport wanting to be able to handle more than 50 million passengers annually within 20 years.

Read the news release here.

JUNE 18, 2026: The Australian Government has announced AUD15 million in grant funding for Round 5 of the Regional Airports Program. The funding can cover up to 50% of the cost of essential works valued between AUD20,000 and AUD5 million, including runway resurfacing, fencing, lighting installation and upgrades, or projects supporting the transition of air services to net zero aviation technology.

Read the news release here.

JUNE 18, 2026: Australia’s International Air Services Commission has allocated Qantas two additional weekly frequencies on the Brisbane (BNE) – Manila (MNL) city pair to allow the airline to operate daily A321-200XLR round trips by November 30, 2026. The determination is valid for five years.

Read the determination here.

JUNE 18, 2026: A Virgin Australia B737 800, VH-VUR (msn 36606), was climbing out of Melbourne (MEL) on a flight to Perth (PER) on June 15, 2026, when the pilots stopped the climb at 5,000 feet following a left-hand engine fire indication and returned safely to Melbourne. The aircraft landed safely and stopped on the runway while emergency services carried out an inspection. However, no evidence of fire was found. The aircraft subsequently taxied to the apron and has since returned to service.

Read the news report here.

JUNE 17, 2026: Papua New Guinea Department of Transport has granted Solomon Airlines an air services licence ahead of the planned start of scheduled Honiara (HIR) – Port Moresby (POM) round trips on June 30.

Read the news report here.

JUNE 17, 2026: Polynesian Airlines, trading as Samoa Airways, has asked the US Department of Transportation for an extension of its existing cabotage rights to fly between Pago Pago (PPG) and the Manu’a Islands from July 5, 2026, through January 1, 2027. Samoa Airways has operated what are essentially US domestic flights for several years because no US carrier operates on American Samoan inter-island routes.

Read the filing here.

Read More News Briefs
Star Marianas Cessna Wheel Bay Fire

JUNE 16, 2026. NORTHERN MARIANAS

Fire erupts in wheel bay of STAR Marianas aircraft

An overheated brake sparked a fire in the left wheel bay of a STAR Marianas Piper PA-32-300 Cherokee Six that was preparing to depart Tinian (TIQ) on June 15, 2026. Passengers and crew safely evacuated the 51-year-old aircraft.

Get the full story

JUNE 16, 2026. AUSTRALIA

New RFDS WA aircraft gifted by Gina Rinehart

Australia’s richest person, Gina Rinehart, has funded a new Pilatus PC-12 PRO for RFDS WA. The aircraft, VH-AW2, is the first of a new generation fleet that will improve range, reliability and patient transport capabilities across Western Australia’s remote regions.

Read more

June 2026 Aircraft Movements

JUNE 19, 2026: PNG Air is presently ferrying its third ATR42-600 to Port Moresby (POM). The aircraft, P2-ATS (msn 1217) departed Toulouse (QYF) on June 16 for Malta (MLA) and at the time of publication, is in Jaipur (JAI).

JUNE 19, 2026: Virgin Australia is preparing to ferry its twentieth B737-8 to Australia. The aircraft, VH-8VF (msn 67037), is due to depart Melbourne (MLB) for Brisbane (BNE) on June 19. The aircraft typically ferry via Ontario (ONT) and Kona (KOA).

JUNE 15, 2026: Australia Corporate Jet Centres advises it is about to take delivery of its second E190-E2. The aircraft, VH-IGJ (msn 19020165) is undergoing final pre-delivery work in São Paulo.

JUNE 12, 2026: Qantas is expected to ferry its seventh A321-200XLR to Australia over the weekend. At the time of publication, VH-OGG (msn 12853) remains at Toulouse (TLS) but it is due to depart on Friday morning (local time) for Brisbane (BNE) via Bengaluru (BLR).

JUNE 9, 2026: The Qantas Group is preparing to ferry in its first owned E190 E2. The aircraft, VH-E9A (msn 190.00250) is at Norwich (NWI) ahead of its delivery flight. The aircraft will be operated by Qantas-owned subsidiary carrier, Network Aviation.

JUNE 8, 2026: National Jet Express has ferried in its thirteenth DHC-8-Q400. The aircraft, VH-8QE (msn 4205), flew into Perth (PER) from Zagreb (ZAG) via Duqm (DQM) and Gan Island (GAN) on June 5. It is leased from TrueNoord.

JUNE 4, 2026: Virgin Australia has ferried in its nineteenth B737-8. The aircraft, VH-8VD (msn 67040), arrived in Brisbane (BNE) on June 2, have flown in from Melbourne (MLB) via Ontario (ONT) and Kona (KOA).

JUNE 3, 2026: Virgin Australia has ferried in its eighteenth B737-8. The aircraft, VH-8VE (msn 67041), arrived in Brisbane (BNE) on May 30, have flown in from Melbourne (MLB) via Ontario (ONT) and Kona (KOA). It commenced revenue flights on June 3.

JUNE 1, 2026: Jetstar is ferrying in its twenty-fifth A321-200NX. The aircraft, VH OLU (msn 13084) departed Toulouse (TLS) bound for Melbourne (MEL) on May 30. It is due to land in Australia today, June 1, after stops in via Istanbul (IST), Muscat (MCT) and Kuala Lumpur (KUL).

Read more aircraft movements

JUNE 15, 2026. AUSTRALIA

Late 2027 delivery date for first Virgin Australia B737-10

Virgin Australia expects to take delivery of the first of ten B737-10s in late 2027. The yet-to-be-certified aircraft were first ordered in 2018, but the airline says Boeing is now making “positive progress with US regulatory approvals” and is confident enough to publicise delivery timelines.

Get the full story

June 2026 Route Briefs

JUNE 22, 2026: Virgin Australia will begin its seasonal thrice-weekly B737 800 operated Canberra (CBR) – Denpasar (DPS) flights today, June 22.

JUNE 18, 2026: Qantas has commenced thrice-weekly B737-800 operated Auckland (AKL) – Coolangatta/Gold Coast (OOL) round trips, effective June 16, 2026.

JUNE 18, 2025: Qantas has commenced thrice-weekly B737-800 operated Auckland (AKL) – Apia (APW) round trips, effective June 17, 2026.

JUNE 15, 2026: Asiana Airlines will drop one of its seven weekly round trips between Seoul (ICN) and Sydney (SYD) between July 22 and September 13, 2026.

JUNE 12, 2026: Fiji Airways has commenced thrice weekly B737-8 round trips between Nadi (NAN) and Coolangatta/Gold Coast (OOL), effective June 11, 2026.

JUNE 12, 2026: Jetstar will commence four times weekly A320-200 operated round trips between Western Sydney Airport (WSI) and Coolangatta/Gold Coast (OOL) on October 25, 2026.

JUNE 12, 2026: Jetstar will commence A320-200 operated round trips between Western Sydney Airport (WSI) and Melbourne (MEL) on October 27, 2026. Initially, there will be 11 weekly round trips before scaling up to 14 between December 15, 2026, and February 1, 2027.

JUNE 12, 2026: Jetstar will commence thrice weekly A320-200 operated round trips between Western Sydney Airport (WSI) and Brisbane (BNE) on October 27, 2026.

JUNE 12, 2026: Qantas will commence four times weekly E190-100 operated round trips between Western Sydney Airport (WSI) and Brisbane (BNE) on March 28, 2027.

JUNE 12, 2026: Qantas will commence four times weekly E190-100 operated round trips between Western Sydney Airport (WSI) and Melbourne (MEL) on March 28, 2027.

JUNE 9, 2026: Philippine Airlines has delayed the planned restart of its Manila (MNL) – Saipan (SPN) roundtrips to October 25, 2026. The carrier had previously said it would restart flights on June 21.

JUNE 9, 2026: Virgin Australia will deploy the E190-E2 on the Perth (PER) – Adelaide (ADL) city-pair from October 25, 2026. The aircraft will initially operate one frequency per week – VA712/717 on Sundays.

Read More Route Briefs

JUNE 12, 2026. AUSTRALIA

ATSB issues preliminary report on fatal R22 helicopter crash

The Australian Transport Safety Bureau (ATSB) has released its preliminary report following the in-flight break-up of a Robinson R22 helicopter in central Queensland on 20 April 2026.

Read more