APRIL 17, 2026. NEW ZEALAND
Glenorchy Air to launch Queenstown Air Charter with new Tecnam
Queenstown-based scenic airline Glenorchy Air has acquired a Tecnam P2012 and will use the aircraft to launch a new charter brand called Queenstown Air Charter. The aircraft is due for delivery mid-year and will be registered as ZK JTK (msn 091).
APRIL 17, 2026. GUAM
US DOT approves Asia Pacific Airlines’ open skies request
The US Department of Transportation has approved an application by Aero Micronesia, trading as Asia Pacific Airlines, for an exemption to operate between the US and all countries with which it has an open-skies agreement or is a MALIAT signatory.
APRIL 16, 2026. AUSTRALIA
Virgin Australia’s fuel hedging strategies pay off
Virgin Australia says effective fuel hedging has helped insulate it from the worst of the recent fuel price spikes. In an April 15 market update, the airline says it expects its fuel costs in the current six-month period to increase by just $30 – 40 million.
APRIL 15, 2026. NEW CALEDONIA
Nouméa court sends Air Calédonie into receivership
Nouméa’s Commercial Court (Tribunal mixte de commerce de Nouméa) has placed Air Calédonie into receivership. The court issued the order yesterday, April 14, following a decision by the airline’s board to file for bankruptcy.
APRIL 15, 2026. AUSTRALIA
Qantas, Jetstar suspend routes amid rising fuel prices
The Qantas Group is trimming domestic capacity by around 5% this quarter as its half year fuel bill blows out to over $3
billion. While multiple routes will lose some frequencies, some regional propellor and jet operated routes will be suspended.
APRIL 14, 2026. AUSTRALIA
Domestic routes Virgin Australia flies that Qantas does not
Virgin Australia is usually outgunned by Qantas when it comes to network depth and breadth. However, Virgin Australia flies into two Australian airports not served by Qantas and operates on nine domestic routes that Qantas does not.
APRIL 13, 2026. AUSTRALIA
GAM Air to acquire Alpine Air 1900D converted Superfreighter
Australian charter airline GAM Air is acquiring a Beechcraft 1900D freighter from Utah’s Alpine Air Express. The transaction is the first time the aircraft converter and cargo carrier has sold a plane to an Australian customer.
APRIL 13, 2026. AUSTRALIA
New routes, more flights from Launceston Airport
Launceston Airport is adding two new destinations to its departures board, with Link Airways about to start Launceston –
Canberra flights and Sharp Airlines saying it will begin non-stop services between Tasmania's second largest city and King Island.
Aero South Pacific New Zealand Airport Briefs available for download
Aero South Pacific has added airport briefs covering New Zealand's five busiest airports. The briefs, which you can download for free, provide an informative snapshot of scheduled regular passenger transport and passenger charter activity at New Zealand’s busiest airports. You'll find the drop down menu containing our airport briefs at the top of this page
APRIL 7, 2026. NEW CALEDONIA
Air Calédonie director asks government for bail out
Air Calédonie director Daniel Houmbouy has told a government committee that the domestic airline expects to start insolvency proceedings this week. He said the court will decide whether to liquidate Air Calédonie or give it time to submit a restructuring plan.
APRIL 3, 2026. AUSTRALIA
Gov’t funding backing Air New Zealand’s Western Sydney flights
Government funding has helped lock in Air New Zealand flights to Western Sydney Airport (WSI). The kiwi carrier has set October 26, 2026, as the start date for thrice-weekly narrowbody flights between Auckland (AKL) and the new airport.
April 2026 Aircraft Movements
MARCH 30, 2026. AUSTRALIA
New laws to tackle Australia’s aviation complaints process
The Australian Government is seeking to appease both the aviation industry and passengers with new laws that will seek to streamline the consumer complaints process while not over-burdening the industry.
APRIL 2, 2026. PAPUA NEW GUINEA
Gurney Airport’s terminal upgrade nears completion
Papua New Guinea’s National Airport Corporation (NAC) says work on the new terminal building at Gurney Airport (GUR) is almost three quarters complete. The NAC says the work should be completed by August 2026