News Briefs from January 2026
JANUARY 30, 2026: Construction of new air traffic control towers at Honiara (HIR) and Munda (MUN) International Airports has commenced. The projects are part of the Second Solomon Islands Roads and Aviation Project (SIRAP2).
Read the news article here.
JANUARY 28, 2026: Flight attendants working Air New Zealand’s widebodies will strike for three days over February 11, 12, 13 after long-running negotiations between the airline and Flight Attendants Association of New Zealand (FAANZ) failed to result in a satisfactory new pay deal for long-haul flight attendants.
Read the news article here.
JANUARY 28, 2026: Helipower has expanded its Queensland operations with the opening of a new base in Rockhampton (ROK), located at the former Capricorn Helicopter Rescue Service hangar. The operator specialises in regional, remote and over-water helicopter operations.
Read the news release here.
JANUARY 28, 2026: Amendments have been made to the Nauru Air Corporation (Amendment) Act 2026. This includes changes to ensure the director general is one of the directors of the Nauru Air Corporation board. The amendment ensures qualified persons are part of the board and can assist with the airline's development.
Read the news article here.
JANUARY 27, 2026: New Zealand’s Wairoa Airport (WIR) will get a NZD4.2 million (USD2.5 million) upgrade, including improving the airport’s drainage, lighting and fencing to enable 24-hour operation, upgrades to the airport’s vertical guidance systems, and extending the runway from 914 metres to 1250 metres. Construction is scheduled to begin in the second half of 2026.
Read the news release here.
JANUARY 26, 2026: Cloncurry (CNJ) has re-opened its sole runway after it experienced extensive damage during a significant weather event earlier this month. Commonwealth-state Disaster Recovery Funding Arrangements provided AUD11.5 million (USD8 million) towards repairs. QantasLink will resume flights to the airport on February 2.
Read the news release here.
JANUARY 26, 2026: Adelaide Airport welcomed more than 2.439 million passengers in the last quarter of 2025, representing 6.4% year-on-year growth. International traffic reached a record high of over 320,000 for the quarter, representing a 26% increase compared with the same 2024 quarter. Across 2025, the airport handled 9 million passengers, setting a new annual record.
Read the news release here.
JANUARY 23, 2026: A Tropicair operated DHC-6-300 Twin Otter registered as P2-BBM (msn 542) landed at Port Moresby (POM) on January 22 without the nose landing gear wheel extended. No injuries were reported however the aircraft sustained some damage.
Read the news article here.
JANUARY 23,2026: A board meeting scheduled for January 22 to formalise the appointment of Lionel Guérin as CEO of Air Tahiti Nui, replacing Philippe Marie, has been postponed due to a delay in receiving shareholders' approval.
Read the news article here.
JANUARY 22, 2026: Fiji Airways’ domestic subsidiary, Fiji Link, will operate additional flights to and from Savusavu Airport (SVU) during the closure of Labasa Airport (LBS), which will be shut between February 16 - March 27, 2026, for runway pavement strengthening works.
Read the news article here.
JANUARY 20, 2026: Passenger numbers at Perth Airport (PER) surpassed the 18 million mark in 2025, besting 2024’s record of 16.9 million. Last year, 5.4 million international and 12.6 million domestic passengers passed through the airport.
Read the news release here.
JANUARY 20, 2026: Free public transport will link Western Sydney International Airport (WSI) to Sydney’s suburban rail network when it opens later in the year. The free bus service will take passengers to and from airport to St Marys train station. The interim service will run until the Sydney Metro airport rail link opens in 2027.
Read the news release here.
JANUARY 19, 2026: Qantas ferried an A380-800, VH-OQC (msn 022), back to Sydney (SYD) from Los Angeles (LAX) late last week, more than a month after it experienced a slat delamination on approach to LAX while operating its first revenue flight in almost six years after being brought back from storage at Abu Dhabi (AUH). The aircraft landed at Sydney mid morning on January 16, local time, and operated QF11 back to Los Angeles on January 18.
See the flight tracking here.
JANUARY 19, 2026: Qantas ferried an A380-800, VH-OQC (msn 022), back to Sydney (SYD) from Los Angeles (LAX) late last week, more than a month after it experienced a slat delamination on approach to LAX while operating its first revenue flight in almost six years after being brought back from storage at Abu Dhabi (AUH). The aircraft landed at Sydney mid morning on January 16, local time, and operated QF11 back to Los Angeles on January 18.
See the flight tracking here.
JANUARY 19, 2026: The operational length of West New Britain’s Hoskins Airport (HKN) runway is temporarily shortened to 1,410 metres as work to extend the 1,900 metre runway ramps up. The runway can still accommodate Dash-8 and ATR aircraft operated by Air Niugini and PNG Air while the work take place.
Read the news article here.
JANUARY 19, 2026: 2025 was the busiest year on record for Brisbane Airport (BNE), with 25 million passengers moving through it over the year. International passenger traffic was up 10.7% and domestic was up 3.2% In December, Brisbane recorded its busiest month on record, with 2.3 million passengers travelling through the airport.
Read the news release here.
JANUARY 16, 2025: A Hevilift ATR42-500, P2-KSA (msn 0639) operating a charter flight between Port Moresby (POM) and Simberi Island (NIS) veered off the runway after landing on January 15, 2026. Fourteen people were onboard but no injuries were reported.
Read the news article here.
JANUARY 15, 2026: The Tongan Government is seeking expressions of interest from qualified consultants to advise and assist the Civil Aviation Office to address gaps identified in an ICAO ICVM audit, as well as in the area of air navigation services and aerodromes and ground aids. The project is funded by the World Bank.
Read the terms of reference and scope of work documents here.
JANUARY 14, 2026: Melbourne Airport has recorded its busiest month on record, with 3,421,195 passengers travelling through the airport terminals in December. The airport also set a new monthly record for the number of international flights it handled, with 5,596 services operated in or out of the international terminal, carrying a total 1,222,570 passengers.
Read the news release here.
JANUARY 13, 2026: Fiji Airways is the latest airline to ban the use of portable power banks inflight. The ban, which comes into effect on January 19, 2026, also prohibits putting portable power banks into checked luggage.
Read the press release here.
JANUARY 13, 2026: Air New Zealand achieved an on-time arrival rate of 79.29% in 2025 and successfully operated 97.22% of its scheduled services, completing 171,216 flights across its network. This betters 2024’s on-time arrival rate, when 77.3% of flights arrived on time. The global average is just over 76%.
Read the press release here.
JANUARY 12, 2026: Fiji’s Nadi International Airport (NAN) temporarily closed on January 10 after lightning strikes on a transmitter saw the main runway lighting system cease operating. At least seven arriving aircraft were diverted to other airports.
Read the news report here.
JANUARY 12, 2026: An SDA Aviation Pacific Aerospace 750XL registered as P2-SDA (msn 201) skidded off the runway after landing at Kanabea Airstrip (KEX) in Papua New Guinea’s Gulf Province on January 9, 2026. The aircraft was carrying six people, including a coffin. No significant injuries were reported.
Read the news report here.
JANUARY 8, 2026: The Solomon Islands Government will spend SBD$8.8 million (USD1.1 million) on upgrades and rehabilitation work at Avuavu Airport (AVU) in South Guadalcanal. The eight-month project, to be completed by local firm Sustainable Resources Management Limited, will allow the airport to re open after been closed for 19 years.
Read the news report here.
JANUARY 8, 2026: Papua New Guinea’s finance minister, Thomas Opa, says the ongoing upgrade work at airports around the country reflects the current government’s commitment to aviation safety. “The government remains committed to building a safe, modern, and resilient aviation network that connects communities, supports economic growth, and advances national development,” he said this week.
Read the news report here.
JANUARY 7, 2026: The US Department of Transportation has issued Polynesian Airlines, doing business as Samoa Airways, an exemption under 49 USC § 40109(g) to continue to transport persons, property, and mail between Pago Pago, American Samoa, and the Manu’a Islands, American Samoa, for a period of twelve months beginning January 7, 2026.
Read the filing here.
JANUARY 5, 2026: Queensland’s Cloncurry Airport (CNJ) remains closed after its sole sealed runway sustained significant damage during recent heavy rainfall. Cloncurry Mayor Greg Campbell says it could be some time before commercial flights resume. Qantas, Alliance Airlines, and Regional Express are among the carriers flying to the remote airport.
Read the news article here.
JANUARY 5, 2026: Approximately VUV49 million (USD404,000) was stolen from a vehicle operating on behalf of Western Union at the cargo terminal at Port Vila Airport (VLI) on December 29, 2025. The armed heist, the first recorded in Vanuatu, has sparked serious concerns about airport security.
Read the news report here.
JANUARY 5, 2026: Fiji Airways says it will impose payload restrictions on its flights to Vava’u (VAV) and Funafuti (FUN) while fuel remains unavailable at both airports. Aviation fuel is not expected to become available at Vava’u and Funafuti until January 9 and 15, respectively. The airline warns passengers and baggage may be offloaded at short notice.
Read the news article here.
