News Briefs from October 2026
OCTOBER 5, 2026: Qantas has asked Australia’s International Air Services Commission for approval to codeshare with Cathay Pacific on its daily Sydney (SYD) – Santiago (SCL) B787-9-operated round-trips. Qantas says the code share will allow Cathay Pacific to expand its selling proposition by independently marketing and pricing services between Hong Kong and Chile via Australia.
Read the application letter here.
OCTOBER 5, 2026: The Australian Transport Safety Bureau has released its final report into a November 2025 runway incursion and near collision at Mackay Airport (MKY). The agency found that poor quality radio transmissions and incomplete visual scanning contributed to the incident between a Sharp Airlines Fairchild Metroliner rolling for take-off and an airport car exiting the runway via a taxiway.
Read the final report here.
OCTOBER 5, 2026: Papua New Guinea’s National Airports Corporation says the upgrade of Hoskins Airport (HKN) is over three quarters complete. The extended 1,580-metre runway can now accommodate Q400, ATR-72 and similar aircraft types. Runway upgrade works remain on track for completion by late 2026, subject to favourable weather conditions.
Read the news release here.
OCTOBER 5, 2026: PNG Air will apply a PGK120 per sector per passenger fuel surcharge on all flights on any domestic ticket purchased from today, October 5. The airline says the near doubling of fuel costs, plus higher freight, supply chain and finance costs, are behind the fare increase.
Read the news release here.
OCTOBER 1, 2026: New Zealand’s Civil Aviation Authority has started talks with stakeholders on cutting domestic and international passenger security levies by 5%. The proposal would reduce the domestic passenger security levy from $10.91 to $10.36 per passenger and the international levy from $22.30 to $21.19 per passenger (excluding GST) and cut levy collections by a cumulative $70.9 million by 2032.
Read the news release here.
OCTOBER 1, 2026: Adelaide Airport Limited (AAL) has announced the appointment of Mike Hirst as its new Board Chairperson, commencing in late November 2026. He has been an AAL Board member since August 2023 and replaces outgoing AAL Chairperson, Rob Chapman.
Read the news release here.
