Virgin Australia launched (22-Jun-2026) three times weekly Canberra-Bali service with Boeing 737-800 equipment, the carrier's first international service from Canberra. The service will add more than 40,000 seats to Bali p/a and complements existing services from Melbourne, Sydney, Brisbane and Gold Coast, which collectively provide more than 500,000 annual seats to the island. Virgin chief marketing and customer operations officer Libby Minogue stated: "We've already seen a strong response from customers, which reinforces the demand for direct international services from Canberra. This route not only gives Canberrans and surrounding regional communities a more convenient way to travel overseas, it will also help drive inbound visitation and economic activity for the ACT by making it easier for international visitors to experience everything Canberra has to offer". Canberra Airport CEO Stephen Byron added: "Direct international services are incredibly important for the Canberra region and this new Bali service is a wonderful milestone for our community... It's also especially meaningful as the first international service from Canberra by an Australian airline, Virgin Australia's first international route from Canberra and a proud reflection of our 23 year relationship with Virgin Australia. This is just the beginning of even more international growth opportunities for Canberra in the years ahead". [more - original PR]
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Türkiye's Ministry of Transport and Infrastructure, via its official Twitter account, announced (20-Jun-2026) the signing of a MoU between Türkiye and New Zealand for the development of air services. Designated carriers are granted the opportunity to utilise fifth freedom rights at two intermediate points to be determined in the future. Carriers from each country maintain the right to operate 14 times weekly.
Background ✨
Türkiye’s Directorate General of Civil Aviation signed multiple air-transport MoUs lifting capacity and access limits, including expanding Algeria frequencies from 35 to 80 weekly and removing point restrictions1. It also concluded MoUs raising passenger entitlements to 14 weekly and incorporating fifth freedom rights with Hong Kong (signed 15-Sep-2025) and Canada, with Canada frequencies rising from 12 to 21 weekly alongside unrestricted cargo and fifth freedom rights2 3.
Wizz Air recorded (19-Jun-2026) 1200 flights in a single day. Chief operations officer Diarmuid O'Conghaile said the milestone was supported by a growing fleet reaching 267 aircraft, expanding network and strong demand from passengers. [more - original PR]
Background ✨
Wizz Air said it added 42 aircraft in 2025, operated close to 335,000 scheduled flights and launched 320 new routes, carrying 68.6 million passengers with a 99.61% completion rate.1 CEO József Váradi said it focused on accelerating growth in Central and Eastern Europe and unlocking underserved markets.1 Wizz Air also planned to handle more than 80 million passengers in 2026 as it scaled operations.2
Adelaide Airport reported (17-Jun-2026) it handled 716,367 passengers in May-2026, an increase of 1.4% year-on-year and the airport's busiest May on record - with "solid growth in domestic passenger numbers" outweighing "a decrease in international traffic through the Middle East". Domestic traffic increased 2.8% to 579,000 passengers, with international traffic declining 6.3% to under 86,000 passengers. The airport reported May-2026 was the first month in 2026 which did not experience international growth, with Mar-2026 and Apr-2026 "still benefitting from the large numbers of new seasonal services" despite "the absence of Middle Eastern carriers". The airport added: "The month of June will be impacted by the suspension of Indonesia AirAsia service to Bali. While it is exciting that both Emirates and Qatar Airways will return to flying daily services mid-June, this will compare to daily for the full month of May-2025. We also get to welcome the commencement of Adelaide's first service to Shanghai with China Eastern from 21-Jun-2026". [more - original PR]
Airport Development Group (ADG) announced (21-Jun-2026) Aero Dili launched Dili-Darwin service, the carrier's "first ever flight to Australia". As previously reported by CAPA, the carrier operates the service on a twice weekly basis. ADG CEO Tony Edmondstone stated: "Timor-Leste is one of Australia's closest neighbours and an increasingly important partner in our region. This new route enhances accessibility, supports economic development and provides Territorians with greater opportunities to travel to Dili and connect onward throughout the region". [more - original PR]
Background ✨
Tourism Malaysia stated Aero Dili commenced twice weekly Dili–Kuala Lumpur with A319-100 equipment, marking its first nonstop link between Timor-Leste and Malaysia, according to Aero Dili president director Lourenço De Oliveira.1 Airport Development Group previously said Aero Dili planned to start twice weekly Dili–Darwin on 24-May-2026, with Mr De Oliveira calling it the airline’s first direct service to Australia.2 Airport Development Group also hosted Australian Government officials at Alice Springs and Darwin airports to discuss its investment plans across the Northern Territory airport network, per ADG CEO Tony Edmondstone.3
Qantas Group unveiled (18-Jun-2026) the cabin design for its A350-1000ULR aircraft, which will operate Project Sunrise services between Sydney and London from Oct-2027. The aircraft has been configured with 238 seats, the "lowest seat density of any A350 around the world". It features six enclosed First suites in a 1-1-1 configuration, 52 Business suites in a 1-2-1 configuration, 40 premium economy seats in a 2-4-2 configuration and 140 economy seats in a 3-3-3 configuration. The aircraft will also feature a purpose-built inflight Wellbeing Zone located between the premium economy and economy cabins, offering sculpted wall panels and integrated stretch handles, a guided on-screen movement programme and a hydration station. The aircraft will also feature a new inflight entertainment system. [more - original PR]
Background ✨
Qantas Airways previously stated it planned to begin daily nonstop Sydney-London in Oct-2027 with A350-1000ULR aircraft, operating alongside Perth-London and Sydney-Singapore-London, and it confirmed Sydney-New York as the next nonstop route.1 Airbus also confirmed supply chain issues delayed Qantas’ first A350-1000ULR delivery to Apr-2027, after an earlier 1Q2027 target.2
Most Read News Headlines
ACCC: Higher jet fuel prices driving 'significant' changes in how airlines operate
Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (ACCC) reported (16-Jun-2026) the following highlights from its latest Domestic Airline Competition report:
- Australia's domestic airlines responded to higher jet fuel prices by increasing airfares and reducing seat capacity on some routes. Ongoing conflict in the Middle East has disrupted global fuel markets and jet fuel prices were over 40% higher in early Jun-2026 compared to mid Feb-2026, increasing cost pressures across the aviation sector;
- Jet fuel refining margins also remain "significantly elevated". The spread between the price of Brent crude and jet fuel was 64% higher in early Jun-2026 than in Feb-2026;
- Qantas Group and Virgin Australia both locked in part of their fuel costs ahead of time to reduce the short term impact of higher prices. Rex Airlines reported that due to its smaller scale, it does not hedge against jet fuel prices. In response to elevated fuel costs, Qantas Group and Virgin Australia have reduced or suspended several domestic services, increased some airfares, and continued targeted sales to boost demand on more price-sensitive routes;
- Virgin Australia has reportedly implemented a fare increase of around 5% across domestic economy and business services since Mar-2026. Qantas Group has not disclosed the size of its fare increase. As indicated by revised forecasts published in Apr-2026, both major airline groups are expecting to recover at least some of the additional costs in jet fuel by raising fares and reducing capacity. This has meant higher prices and less choice for some consumers;
- Jet fuel and brent crude have generally increased in price over the time period but passenger demand has remained steady, supported by holidays and major events. Easter school holidays and major events contributed to the busiest April for domestic travel since 2019;
- Domestic airlines carried around five million passengers in Mar/Apr-2026, while seat capacity increased 1.9% year-on-year in Apr-2026;
- On time arrival rates were lower and flights were cancelled more frequently in Feb/Mar-2026, before improving in Apr-2026;
- In Apr-2026, the industry average on time arrival rate was 82.9%, the "best result" reported since Feb-2022. Qantas' 85.8% on time performance was the strongest of any airline since Feb-2022.
ACCC commissioner Anna Brakey stated: "Higher jet fuel prices are driving significant changes in how airlines operate, including reducing or suspending services and increasing fares on some routes". Ms Brakey continued: "We've seen services paused or withdrawn on routes such as Adelaide to Mount Gambier, Alice Springs to Brisbane and Darwin to the Gold Coast, meaning fewer travel options for some communities". She said: "With many travellers booking well in advance, particularly around holidays and major events, the latest data does not fully show the effect of higher airfares". Ms Brakey added: "We expect this to become clearer over coming months and will continue to monitor the impact on consumers and the broader aviation sector". [more - original PR]
Uzbekistan Airports signs PPP agreement with international consortium led by Vision Invest
Uzbekistan Airports signed (17-Jun-2026) a public private partnership (PPP) agreement with an international consortium led by Vision Invest, which includes Sojitz Corporation and Incheon International Airport Corporation, for construction and subsequent operation of New Tashkent International Airport. The private consortium will be responsible for construction and operation of the passenger terminal and landside facilities, while the state partner will retain responsibility for construction and operation of the airfield infrastructure. Construction is scheduled for completion by the end of 2030. The airport will be able to handle 20 million passengers and 300,000 tonnes of cargo p/a. [more - original PR]
Background ✨
Uzbekistan's Deputy Minister for Transport Jasurbek Choriev said New Tashkent International Airport construction was due to start in Jun-2026, with a PPP signing expected by mid May-2026, and noted Tashkent Islam Karimov International Airport was projected to reach capacity by 2029 and close when the new airport opened.1 The Government also outlined a wider programme to reconstruct seven international airports and lift aviation fuel output to 600,000 tonnes p/a by 2030, including new fuel storage at multiple airports.2