News Briefs from February 2026
FEBRUARY 27, 2026: Qantas will replace the A380-800 with a 787-9 on the Melbourne (MEL) - Los Angeles (LAX) city-pair due to reduced demand in the economy class cabin on Australia – US routes and will redeploy the A380-800 onto Sydney (SYD) – Singapore (SIN) city pair.
Read the news release here.
FEBRUARY 27, 2026: Qantas Freight will begin operations at Western Sydney Airport's 24-hour cargo precinct in mid-calendar year 2026.
Read the news release here.
FEBRUARY 26, 2026: The New Zealand Government will make RNZAF Base Ohakea available as an alternative runway for widebody aircraft around the-clock. Currently Ohakea, just north of Wellington (WLG), has only been available to airlines as an alternate runway between 5.00 am and 10.30pm.
Read the news release here.
FEBRUARY 26, 2026: Christchurch Airport has announced an after-tax net profit of NZD29.5 million for the six months to December 31, 2025. Passenger numbers rose 7.2% to 3.4 million during the period. Domestic travel increased by 4.8%, while international passengers rose 15.2% when measured against the comparable 2024 period.
Read the news release here.
FEBRUARY 26, 2026: New Zealand’s Golden Bay Air will be the first airline to receive a loan from funding ear marked for at-risk regional air routes. The NZD1.1 million loan from the NZD30 million package set aside by the government will help the airline refinance existing aircraft debt and fund essential ongoing major maintenance checks, as well as maintain its flights from Tākaka (KTF) to Nelson (NSN), Karamea (NZKM) and Wellington (WLG).
Read the news release here.
FEBRUARY 25, 2026: Pilots operating a Regional Express Saab 340B, VH-RXE (msn 275), working ZL6469 from Griffith (GFF) to Sydney (SYD) on February 22, 2026, observed some abnormal indications from the right hand engine and shut it down. The aircraft diverted to Parkes (PKS), where it landed safely. It has since resumed flying.
Read the news story here.
FEBRUARY 25, 2026: Melbourne Airport has announced an AUD4.5 billion expansion of its cramped international terminal. Among the upgrades are another five aircraft stands (capable of accommodating five widebody or eight narrowbody aircraft), a bigger check-in zone, and an expanded airside space. Work is expected to begin later this year.
Read the news release here.
FEBRUARY 25, 2025: The Western Australia Government will spend AUD12.5 million to build a new HQ and consolidate its emergency services aviation arms at Perth’s Jandakot Airport (JAD). The state's aerial fleet includes 38 aerial firefighting aircraft and three rescue helicopters. The new site will be more than 8100m2 in size and include four hangars, office accommodation, training simulators, training rooms, amenities and crew rest areas.
Read the news release here.
FEBRUARY 24, 2026: Auckland Airport will not pursue its Airport Services Input Methodologies Merits Review lawsuit in the wake of a December 2025 High Court decision to not hear an appeal. The decision was buried on p.21 of the airport’s interim results presentation released late last week.
Read the results presentation here.
FEBRUARY 23, 2026: Approximately 200 people took to the streets of Nouméa on February 20, 2026, to protest Air Calédonie’s relocation to La Tontouta International Airport (NOU) on March 2.
Read the news story here.
FEBRUARY 20, 2026: Fiji Airways has appointed Narendra Kumar to its board of directors, effective from February 13, 2026. Kumar, who has extensive experience in tourism, aviation, governance, finance, transformation, replaces outgoing director, Daksesh Patel.
Read the news release here.
FEBRUARY 18, 2026: The Guam International Airport Authority says it has not received approximately USD9.2 million in aviation fuel tax payments due for 2018 through 2023 despite a law requiring its remittance, according to airport officials.
Read the news article here.
FEBRUARY 18, 2026: The board of PNG Air Limited appointed Gheno Minia as a non-executive director, effective December 22, 2025. Minia was nominated by a new sophisticated shareholder, PNG Air- Pacific Balance Fund.
Read the stock exchange filing here.
FEBRUARY 18, 2026: Jetstar says it carried over 700,000 customers on trans-Tasman routes in 2025, an increase of 9% on the previous year. Factors driving the increase included marketing campaigns and the launch of four new trans-Tasman city pairs.
Read the news release here.
FEBRUARY 17, 2026: Melbourne Airport (MEL) says January 2026 was its busiest month on record for international arrivals, with 688,534 international arrivals passing through the airport last month, including a record 688,534 international arrivals on January 9.
Read the news release here.
FEBRUARY 17, 2026: Tonga’s prime minister, La’aulialemalietoa Schmidt, has discussed establishing direct air services with Western Samoa in talks with Western Samoa PM Lord Fakafānua on February 12. Schmidt says flights between Nuku’alofa and Apia would improve connectivity, tourism, and trade.
Read the news story here.
FEBRUARY 16, 2026: The Cook Islands Government is considering a soil stabilisation treatment as a short to medium-term solution to ongoing runway issues at several outer islands airports, particularly Mangaia (MGS) and Mitiaro (MOI), according to Prime Minister Mark Brown.
Read the news story here.
FEBRUARY 16, 2026: US marines from Marine Wing Support Squadron 171 and Marine Fighter Attack Squadron 232 have deployed to Tinian Airport (TIQ) in the Northern Mariana Islands under an aviation training relocation programme aimed at strengthening expeditionary aviation capabilities. This includes setting up forward arming and a refuelling point at the airport.
Read the news story here.
FEBRUARY 12, 2026: Maroochydore/Sunshine Coast Airport (MCY) has officially opened its new state-of-the-art outbound baggage facility, marking a significant milestone in the airport’s AUD170 million terminal upgrade. The new facility includes more than 300 metres of new conveyor systems including two large make-up loops to support increased baggage capacity, doubling what was originally here at the airport.
Read the news release here.
FEBRUARY 12, 2026: Maroochydore/Sunshine Coast Airport (MCY) has officially opened its new state-of-the-art outbound baggage facility, marking a significant milestone in the airport’s AUD170 million terminal upgrade. The new facility includes more than 300 metres of new conveyor systems including two large make-up loops to support increased baggage capacity, doubling what was originally here at the airport.
Read the news release here.
FEBRUARY 11, 2026: The third and final stage of the Port Lincoln Airport's runway renewal project is now complete. The AUD2 million project, assisted by both the federal and state governments, involved a reseal of the entire main 1,499-metre runway, taxiways, apron and all associated line marking.
Read the news release here.
FEBRUARY 11, 2026: Air Niugini has inked an agreement with Singapore’s Institute of Technical Services to strengthen technical training and capacity building. The agreement was signed at last week’s Singapore Air Show.
Read the news article here.
FEBRUARY 11, 2026: Airnorth has strengthened its long-standing relationship with Embraer via a new multi-year support agreement under which Embraer will provide comprehensive maintenance, repair and spare-parts support for Airnorth’s E170 and E190 fleet through the manufacturer’s Pool Program.
Read the news release here.
FEBRUARY 10, 2026: Sharp Airlines has stopped taking bookings for its Melbourne Essendon (MEB) – King Island (KNS) flights from May 2, 2026, when government support ends. Typically, the airline runs twice daily round-trips over the summer season and a reduced winter service. Sharp Airlines CEO Alistair Dorward says the route requires government support to remain operational.
Read the news article here.
FEBRUARY 10, 2026: The Western Australia Government will provide AUD122 million between July 1, 2026, and June 30, 2031, to subsidise airfares on certain intrastate scheduled passenger routes for regional and remote residents. The subsidies are provided under the Regional Airfare Zone Cap scheme.
Read the news release here.
FEBRUARY 9, 2026: The upgrade of the Santa Cruz Airport (SCZ) in the Solomon Islands is complete. The work included runway sealing, pavement and shoulder improvements, and installing airfield ground lighting. The World Bank financed project was part of the Second Solomon Islands Roads and Aviation Project.
Read the news article here.
FEBRUARY 6, 2026: Virgin Australia has secured another multi-million five-year deal with the Australian Football League (AFL). The airline retains its partner status, with AFL players, coaches and support staff continuing to travel exclusively on the carrier.
Read the news release here.
FEBRUARY 6, 2026: Civil Aviation Authority of Fiji Executive Manager Standards and Compliance, Sereima Bolanavatu, says the regulatory agency is struggling to reach full staffing due to high training costs and a shortage of qualified professionals, adding that many aviation professionals prefer private industry roles that offer higher pay.
Read the news article here.
FEBRUARY 6, 2026: Sydney Airport has appointed global architecture practice Grimshaw and international engineering consultancy Mott MacDonald as the lead consultants for its T2–T3 terminal link project, a multi-year investment forming a core part of the airport’s AUD6 billion capital works programme.
Read the news release here.
FEBRUARY 5, 2026: 2025 was the busiest year on record for international travel at Sydney Airport (SYD), with a total 17.17 million international passengers passing through in 2025, including 4.62 million international passengers in the year’s final quarter. Factoring in domestic passengers, 42.54 million people travelled through Sydney Airport in 2025.
Read the news release here.
FEBRUARY 5, 2026: A Virgin Australia B737-800, VH-YFS (msn 6589), performed a go-around at Hobart Airport (HBA) on February 4 after pilots discovered the aircraft’s flaps were stuck while on final approach. The aircraft later landed safely, albeit at higher-than-normal speeds. At the time of publication, the aircraft remains at Hobart.
Read the news article here.
FEBRUARY 5, 2026: Nauru Airlines has inked an aircraft engine sale and leaseback agreement with Willis Lease Finance Corporation for seven CFM56-7B engines fitted to its B737-700 and B737-800 aircraft. The six-year agreement will also cover maintenance and spare parts.
Read the news release here.
FEBRUARY 4, 2026: Air New Zealand’s general manager of airports, Kate Boyer, will become chief operations officer in late March, replacing Alex Marren, who announced she was stepping down last year. In addition, Mike Williams, currently chief transformation and alliances officer, will become the airline’s chief operations officer (technical operations). Both appointments come into effect on March 31, 2026.
Read the stock exchange filing here.
FEBRUARY 4, 2026: Queensland’s Central Highlands Regional Airport has adopted the Emerald Airport (EMD) Master Plan, outlining how the airport will continue to grow and improve to meet future passenger, freight and technology needs. Following the plan’s adoption, Council will begin working on the short-term implementation plan (over the next five years), including planning for future freight opportunities.
You can read the masterplan here.
FEBRUARY 3, 2026: Papua New Guinea’s National Airports Corporation has pushed back the start of runway upgrade work at Kiunga Airport (UNG) until March. Consequently, Air Niugini says it will continue to operate its four times weekly Port Moresby (POM) – Kiunga flights until March, instead of suspending the flights in late January, as previously planned.
Read the news release here.
FEBRUARY 2, 2026: The operator of Saipan Airport (SPN), the Commonwealth Ports Authority, hastily approved emergency maintenance expenditure after the airport’s runway lights went out overnight across January 28 - 29, forcing ATC to temporarily halt arrivals and departures.
Read the news report here.