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.

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.

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

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.

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.

Allowing South Islanders to escape the cold winters, Air New Zealand has announced new non-stop flights between Christchurch and Rarotonga.

Warbirds Over Wanaka has announced the RNZAF is planning a big turnout for next Easter’s 2026 Airshow with potentially have a full line-up of RNZAF aircraft.

The first electric Air New Zealand aircraft, a small BETA ALIA CX300 has taken off on it’s first round off test flights from Tauranga and Hamilton.

To support communities after severe weather, the NZDF worked NEMA EMAT and Civil Defence to provide an emergency response to Southland regions.

Soldiers from the New Zealand Army, Ngāti Tūmatauenga carried out training with Fighter Jets NZ, when their fleet of L-39 jets were used to simulate realistic close air support missions.