Next week, Royal New Zealand Air Force (RNZAF) Base Ohakea will host the first ever visit of any fifth-generation fighter jets to New Zealand when the Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF) brings two F-35A Lightning II stealth fighter jets to New Zealand for Exercise Agile Tasman.

After years of legal battles, negotiations and uncertainty, one of the most significant aircraft in New Zealand aviation history is finally on its way home.

Jetstar is set to overhaul the way it handles cabin baggage from February 2027, removing its 7kg carry-on limit and introducing a new charge for passengers wanting to use the aircraft’s overhead lockers.

For the next two weeks (August 10th through 21st), the RNZAF is carrying out a pilot training exercise out of RNZAF Base Auckland called Exercise Wise Owl.

Last week while Qantas was pulling off its record breaking proving flights between Melbourne and Toulouse, and Glenorchy Air was flying its new tiny 9-seat twin from the United States to New Zealand, Air Chathams took delivery of it’s seventh Saab 340 aircraft.

Recently, despite freezing conditions, RNZAF NH-90 helicopters have crews trained against simulated surface-to-air missile threats during a joint Army and Air Force combat training exercise in Tekapo, with crews also conducting mountain flying and tactical air mobility operations.

Amid the recent fuel crisis and Middle East conflicts earlier this year, Qatar Airways ended its non-stop Auckland-Doha flights that were operated by their Airbus A350-1000s and briefly their -900s.

Texel Air Australasia has become the first international cargo airline to commence operations from the new Western Sydney International Airport (WSI), marking another milestone ahead of the airport's first scheduled passenger services later this year.

Hawaiian Airlines has announced it will suspend its seasonal Honolulu–Auckland service for the upcoming 2026–27 summer, ending the only nonstop connection between New Zealand and Hawaiʻi after just a few years of post-pandemic operation.

 Air New Zealand has revealed the first official images of the completely redesigned interiors that will be installed aboard its Boeing 777-300ER fleet, marking the airline's most significant cabin refurbishment programme in more than 15 years.

Queenstown Airport is set to undergo one of the most significant infrastructure upgrades in its history after unveiling plans for a $60 million investment that will transform aircraft movements on the airfield while strengthening the airport's long-term operational resilience.

The Royal New Zealand Air Force (RNZAF) has successfully conducted its first live AGM-84 Harpoon anti-ship missile launch from a Boeing P-8A Poseidon during Exercise Valiant Shield 2026, marking a significant milestone in the development of the fleet's full operational capability.

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