JULY 31, 2026: Cathay Pacific has no plans to operate freighter flights to the newly opened Western Sydney Airport but says it could do so if needed. Likewise, Tasman Cargo Airlines says it plans to stay put at Sydney's legacy airport. But one unlikely cargo operator is advancing its plans to fly into Sydney's newest airport.

JULY 31, 2026: A Samoa Airways DHC-6-300 Twin Otter has suffered extensive damage after overshooting the runway threshold when landing at Fitiuta Airport in American Samoa earlier this week. The aircraft had only returned to service earlier this month after a multi-million dollar overhaul.

JULY 30, 2026:The Fiji Airways CEO says ending its Nadi – Dallas flights will have little downside, with connecting passengers shifting to Los Angeles and San Francisco. CEO Paul Scurrah says the move will cut costs and allow the airline to better utilise its fleet while it maps out its longer term future.

JULY 30, 2026: Solomon Airlines is wet-leasing aircraft from Alliance Airlines and Skytrans after one of its A320s was damaged by a third party at Brisbane Airport. The carrier is also facing domestic disruptions as its sole DHC-8-100 undergoes maintenance, while its recently launched Christchurch flights will become seasonal.

JULY 30, 2026: Aviation industry groups are demanding answers from Airservices Australia after recurring air traffic control staffing shortages again caused widespread flight delays. The criticism comes as Airservices seeks to double fees over five years.

JULY 29, 2026: Korean low-cost carrier t'way Air will increase Seoul – Sydney services from three weekly round-trips to daily flights, effective October 19, 2026. The uptick in services is driven by strong passenger and freight demand on the route.

JULY 28, 2026: FlyPelican has acquired its first Jetstream 41, adding to its existing fleet of five Jetstream 31s. The 31-year-old aircraft arrived at Newcastle Williamtown Airport from the US on July 26. The aircraft will become the only Jetstream 41 in Australia operated by a commercial airline.

JULY 28, 2026: Western Sydney Airport's cargo precinct opened yesterday, July 27, with Texel Air and Qantas Freight operating the first flights. The 24 hour facility will become a key hub for freight as overnight cargo operations shift from curfew-restricted Sydney Airport.

JULY 27, 2026: Misima Airport (MIS) is set to reopen to commercial flights after Misima Minerals signed a MOU to operate the airport and upgrade its runway. The project forms part of Ok Tedi's rehabilitation of the Misima gold mine and will improve air access for local communities and the mining operation.

JULY 27, 2026: Qantas will base some of its future Airbus A350-1000s in Melbourne under a new commercial agreement with Melbourne Airport. The deal also supports the airport's international expansion and planned third runway, paving the way for new long-haul routes and future growth.

JULY 24, 2026: Micronesian Air Connection Services (MACS) has had the restrictions on its Part 135 commuter authorisation lifted, allowing it to expand scheduled services across the Northern Mariana Islands. The commuter airline also plans to introduce two GippsAero GA8 Airvans alongside its Cessna Grand Caravans.

JULY 24, 2026: China Eastern Airlines will double its Auckland – Buenos Aires fifth freedom service to four weekly flights from December 2026, following strong passenger and cargo demand. The expansion strengthens links between China, New Zealand and South America.

JULY 23, 2026: Qatar Airways will shift its fifth freedom Auckland flights from Adelaide to Melbourne this summer, giving Victorians a new trans-Tasman option. The airline has also upgraded its resuming Canberra services from four times weekly to daily flights.

JULY 23, 2026: Virgin Australia Regional Airlines (VARA) is now operating its E190-E2s on all but one of its regular passenger transport (RPT) routes within Western Australia. The regional jets are now covering almost 20% of all scheduled RPT flights within the state.

JULY 22, 2026: Motu Link Airlines has suspended flights after its only ATR72-500 suffered nose landing gear damage during a ground handling incident. The aircraft has been grounded since June 25, leaving the French Polynesian start-up facing mounting repair costs and significant lost revenue.

JULY 21, 2026: Samoa Airways has received back its second refurbished Twin Otter to service after a major overhaul in Canada expected to extend the aircraft's life by 30 years. This comes as the airline faces uncertainty over its internal American Samoa operations and the Samoan Government considers launching a new international carrier.

JULY 21, 2026: Hinterland Aviation plans to introduce Australia's first Cessna 408 SkyCouriers into service in early 2027, boosting capacity on its Cape York routes. The airline will also shift its Cairns operations to the airport's main domestic terminal to coincide with the aircraft's arrival.

JULY 20, 2026: Nauru Airlines is exploring partnership and investment opportunities with China after a delegation of the airline's senior officials recently travelled to the country for talks. The visit comes as the Naoero Government looks to strengthen the carrier's role in the Southwest Pacific.

JULY 20, 2026: Air Niugini has confirmed it will resume nonstop flights between Port Moresby and Auckland from November 17, 2026, ending a 28-year absence from the route. The airline says the new service will strengthen trade, tourism and regional connectivity while supporting its ambition to grow Port Moresby as a Pacific hub.

JULY 17, 2026: Perth Airport has recorded its busiest year ever, handling more than 18.3 million passengers in the 12 months to June 30, 2026. Strong international growth, rising FIFO demand and new airline services helped drive the record result

JULY 17, 2026: Fiji Airways is seeking expanded operating rights in the United States following the ratification of a new bilateral air services agreement. The carrier says greater flexibility will support future growth, strengthen codeshare partnerships and create additional travel and freight opportunities between the US and the South Pacific.

JULY 16, 2026: Hong Kong Airlines has resumed twice-weekly flights to Saipan, becoming the second international carrier to restore services after Typhoon Sinlaku. The airline is one of several planning a return to Saipan as the US territory attempts to rebuild its tourism industry.

JULY 15, 2026: Qatar Airways and Virgin Australia will introduce a third daily Sydney – Doha service from December and reduce Brisbane and Perth frequencies. The new flights will operate under Virgin Australia's flight numbers using Qatar Airways-operated aircraft, highlighting how the partnership continues to maximise air service rights.

JULY 15, 2026: United Airlines is trimming its 2026/27 southern summer seasonal flights to Adelaide by more than half, according to its latest schedule update. United will now run the service between December 17, 2026, and February 8, 2027, reducing the schedule to 23 return flights – a 53.1% cut to what the airline had planned to operate.

JULY 14, 2026: Solomon Airlines is developing Port Moresby as a gateway between the Solomon Islands and Asia, signing new partnerships with Philippine Airlines and China Southern Airlines. The strategy aims to diversify the carrier's international network, reduce reliance on Brisbane and attract more visitors from fast-growing Asian markets.

JULY 14, 2026: Western Sydney Airport has completed its first live freight trial ahead of opening to cargo operations on July 26. Yesterday, a Qantas A321-200 freighter tested aircraft handling, ground operations and cargo systems. Another three test flights are scheduled later this week.

JULY 13, 2026: The ATSB has found glideslope signal interference contributed to a Tasman Cargo Airlines B767 freighter descending below the ILS approach path into Sydney Airport. The investigation prompted safety changes by the airline, while Boeing will introduce software updates designed to prevent similar incidents.

JULY 10, 2026: A Fiji High Court has ruled that lawyers for a former Fiji Airways pilot may question the airline about the lease agreement for a B737 -700 at the centre of a negligence claim. The pilot alleges unresolved pressurisation defects caused permanent injuries. However, the airline denies liability.

JULY 10, 2026: Aircalin has secured financing for its first A350-900, due for delivery in December. The aircraft will modernise the New Caledonian carrier's long-haul fleet and support future network growth, with the financing package structured without recourse to taxpayer funds.

JULY 9, 2026: France's BEA has opened a serious incident investigation after an Air Tahiti ATR42-600 suffered a low fuel warning during a flight from Bora Bora to Papeete and an unplanned engine shut down after landing earlier this week.

JULY 9, 2026: Australian Corporate Jet Centres has ferried an E190-E2 to Australia on behalf of the Kiribati Government. The aircraft is expected to be support Air Kiribati's long-delayed jet ambitions, including establishing direct services to Brisbane and Auckland.

JULY 8, 2026: Newcastle Williamtown Airport is renewing its push for nonstop flights to Auckland, seven years after Virgin Australia ended its flights on the route. The airport argues upgraded facilities and strong travel demand support a trans-Tasman comeback.

JULY 7, 2026: PNG Air has retired its final DHC-8-100 aircraft, completing its transition to an all-ATR fleet and ending more than a decade of Dash-8 operations across Papua New Guinea. The airline says the move will simplify operations, improve reliability and reduce maintenance costs.

JULY 7, 2026: Air Oceania hopes to acquire two more aircraft to help grow its network around New Caledonia. The plan comes as ongoing airport blockades continue to disrupt Air Calédonie, creating strong demand for alternative inter-island services.

JULY 6, 2026: Nauru Airlines has dropped the Majuro – Pohnpei and Pohnpei – Koror sectors from its Australian Government-backed North Pacific Connector service. The flights now terminate at Majuro.

JULY 4, 2026: Air New Zealand has returned its last grounded B787-9 to service after almost a year in storage, while nine of its fourteen Dreamliners have now completed cabin refurbishments, helping ease a capacity crunch at the airline.

JULY 3, 2026: Auckland Airport’s new master plan, released this week, outlines how it plans to manage growth into the 2040s but leaves key infrastructure decisions, including a second runway and terminal integrations in limbo without any funding and timelines. Instead, it loosely ties the projects to future demand.

JULY 3, 2026: Air New Zealand expects its new Western Sydney Airport flights to be profitable, citing the airport’s lower costs, growing catchment and expansion potential. The airline says the airport will complement its existing Sydney operations amid ongoing capacity constraints at Kingsford Smith.

JULY 2, 2026: Papua New Guinea’s Accident Investigation Commission found an unstable approach, decision-making errors and plan continuation bias was behind a Tropicair Cessna 208B hard landing at Balimo in July 2025.

JULY 2, 2026: ASIC has failed in its bid to hold three former Regional Express directors liable for alleged continuous disclosure breaches, with the NSW Supreme Court dismissing the claims against them. Former chairman Lim Kim Hai admitted the contraventions and will return to court for sentencing.

JULY 1, 2026: The Australian Transport Safety Bureau has completed its investigation into an air display accident at the Avalon Airshow earlier this year. The agency concluded that the aircraft, which was performing a triple avalanche manoeuvre, was too low when it exited the complex aerobatic sequence.

JULY 1, 2026: Guam’s A.B. Won Pat International Airport is seeking a USD17.7 million government bailout as declining visitor numbers and reduced airline capacity erode revenue. But airport officials say raising airline fees would further undermine tourism, while legislators remain divided over providing additional financial support.