After 27 days overseas, a Royal New Zealand Air Force (RNZAF) C-130J Super Hercules has successfully taken part in the United States Air Force-led (USAF) Exercise Red Flag, where several air forces had their combat support skills tested in the Alaskan environment.

Recently, the Royal New Zealand Navy (RNZN) conducted a training exercise with Tauranga based Fighter Jets NZ. The jets used were three of Fighter Jets NZ’s Aero L-39C Albatros’. During the exercise, the L-39s were used to identify and track simulated missle threats on RNZN vessels.

Air New Zealand announced it will begin three new non-stop routes from Christchurch from later this year operated by the airlines fleet of Boeing 787s.

An ex-Qantas Boeing 707 jet has arrived on Australian soil after two months at sea.

Australia’s airline industry could be getting another competitor, with plans emerging for a new ULCC, Zinc, which aims to establish itself at Western Sydney International Airport.

Queenstown based, Glenorchy Air will launch a new private charter brand named Queenstown Air Charter from October 2026.

This March, C-130J Hercules crews from New Zealand, Australia and the United States conducted precision air mobility training in the skies above the upper South Island.

The Pacific Airshow Gold Coast is back for 2026 and already looks like it’ll be worth the wait since the last show. Last year, the Gold Coast airshow was unfortunately cancelled due to unsafe conditions at Surfers Paradise after an ex tropical cyclone made landfall bringing significant challenges with it. But the airshow is now ready to soar back into life once again.

Air Niugini will resume flights to Auckland and Tokyo in mid-2026. The airline most recently flew scheduled services to Tokyo six years ago and hasn’t regularly flown to Auckland since 1998.

Last week, the Royal New Zealand Air Force (RNZAF) posted a community alert telling the public they will be conducting multiple exercises alongside aircraft from other nations. The RNZAF said this would include low level and tactical flying.

One of New Zealand’s largest and most highly anticipated events, Warbirds Over Wānaka is set to return for 2026 with a display sequence that will not disappoint

Starting early next year, the United Kingdom’s flag carrier British Airways will begin direct flights from between London Heathrow Airport and Melbourne Tullamarine Airport with a short stopover in Kuala Lumpur.

The Spirit of Douglas, a 1942 Douglas DC-3, has arrived in New Zealand as part of a worldwide “World Cruiser Tour”. Its arrival into New Zealand followed a multi-leg Pacific routing via Australia and Norfolk Island, continuing its westbound global circuit across the Pacific.

This weekend, the Royal New Zealand Air Force (RNZAF) Black Falcons will take to the skies over the North Island. The team will fly over many towns across the North Island with a focus on town centres.

Starting in October this year, Jetstar will offer non-stop flights between Christchurch and Perth using their new Perth based Airbus A321LRs.

On Sunday 15th March, NZ Warbirds will filled the skies over Ardmore with an impressive range of vintage and modern aircraft. Warbirds On Parade is Auckland’s annual local airshow and always makes for a great day out. Planned displays for the 2026 include the thrilling Yak-3 ‘Full Noise’ and exciting Westpac and NZ Police helicopters.

The RAAF has announced it will withdraw eight aircraft from its heritage flight following a review of technical and airworthiness factors. These factors ensure the safe, sustainable and meaningful historic connection to 100 Squadron.

Warbirds Over Wanaka has confirmed the attendance of the world famous, USAF F-22 Raptor Demonstration team for this year’s airshow at Easter.

2026 is another busy year for airshows across the country including a busy display schedule for the (RNZAF) and the largest NZ airshow, Warbirds Over Wanaka. Here are some of the top airshows happening this year in NZ.

From later this week, The Royal New Zealand Air Force (RNZAF) will host several German Air Force (GAF) aircraft across New Zealand and working alongside the aircraft while they visit for fight training.