Oceania Aviation Insider

02/08/2024

Only two weeks to go until the Pacific Airshow Gold Coast!

In just two weeks, the Pacific Airshow's second edition is set to roar into action over Surfers Paradise in the GC. The airshow will include 4+ hours of non-stop flying including the display of 2x USAF F-22 Raptors and a RAAF F/A-18 Super Hornet.

Read more:

For the second year in a row, the only airshow to have two editions is set to roar into action over Surfers Paradise in the Gold Coast.

06/04/2024

Recently, our team was lucky enough to get a feel for vintage aviation with Fly DC3 New Zealand. We were also able to have a chat with a pilot of the DC3, Captain Matt McLaughlin.
Read more about our experience here:

Recently we flew with Fly DC3 from Ardmore, this article gives an insight into the amazing airline.

15/08/2023

Fiji Airways has taken a huge step forward in its journey towards excellence, as it recently welcomed two brand-new Airbus A350-900 aircraft, registered as DQ-FAM and DQ-FAN.

Read more here:

Fiji Airways is expanding to new horizons with their two brand-new A350-900 aircraft.

13/08/2023

Glenorchy Air has announced they will soon begin operating a brand new Kodiak 100 II from October this year.

Read more here:

Glenorchy Air has announced they will soon begin operating a brand new Kodiak 100 II from October this year.

09/07/2023

Our latest copy of our weekly round-up is out now!

https://www.oceaniaaviationinsider.site/_files/ugd/81153d_97eda3c6a28c440ba63dc0249ec6711e.pdf

28/06/2023

Today, China Southern Airlines announced they would return to Christchurch Airport from November 10th this year likely using their state-of-the-art Boeing 787-9.

A meeting between China Southern Airlines' President and the New Zealand Prime Minister's delegation in Beijing announced the airline's return. President Han says the service paused during the pandemic but will re-start on November 10th with three flights a week.

Han said, "Our connection from Guangzhou to Christchurch was launched in 2015, and over the following four years grew from a summer seasonal service to a daily year-round link between our two countries."

China Southern's extensive network will connect Christchurch with hundreds of destinations through its Guangzhou hub, making it the primary gateway to the South Island's wonders.

Tourism New Zealand is excited to welcome visitors who are passionate about exploring our beautiful country and contributing to our society and economy. According to our CEO, René de Monchy, Chinese visitors are a great fit for this goal as they tend to travel throughout the year and enjoy a wide variety of activities across different regions. Come and experience the beauty of New Zealand with us!

19/06/2023

Due to a new partnership with Brisbane Airport, Jetstar is set to boost the number of international routes available from the airport.

As part of a new partnership between Brisbane Airport and Jetstar, Jetstar will launch an additional half a million low fares between Brisbane and international destinations.

Due to the new agreement, Jetstar will be able to offer new direct services between Brisbane and Tokyo Narita, Brisbane and Osaka and Brisbane and Seoul as well as adding more frequency to its pre-existing services from Brisbane to Bali and Brisbane to Auckland.

These new routes make great use of airport services that complement Jetstar’s low-cost operating model.

From 29 October 2023, four return services per week between Brisbane and Auckland as JQ 149 & 150, this increases to daily and from 1 February 2024, the A321NEO will also start flying on the route.

From 31 October 2023, the airline will operate five return flights a week between Brisbane and Tokyo as JQ 9 & 10, increasing to a daily service from 3 December 2023.

From 1 February 2024, Brisbane to Bali (Denpasar) will increase from seven to 10 return services a week. These flights will operate as JQ 57, 58, 59 & 60.

From 1 February 2024, Jetstar will begin three return flights a week between Brisbane and Seoul. This flight will operate as JQ 53 & 54.

From 2 February 2024, they will fly four return services a week between Brisbane and Osaka as JQ 23 & 24.

Photo: Airbus

10/06/2023

Qantas Airways is on schedule to depart Sydney for New York on Wednesday using a state-of-the-art Boeing 787-9 Dreamliner.

The 236-seat Qantas 787-9 is equipped with seat-back entertainment and power/USB outlets.

The 787 will depart Sydney at 9:30AM (local times) bound for Auckland, and arrive in Auckland at 2:35PM. Then depart Auckland for NYC at 4:35PM. After a 16:15 hour flight, QF3 will land in New York at 4:50PM on Wednesday.

QF4 departs NYC at 7:30PM on Wednesday (local times) for the flight to Sydney via Auckland. The flight arrives in Auckland the next day on Friday at 5:00AM and then departs Auckland at 7:00AM for Sydney.

The flights depart three times weekly on Wednesdays, Fridays and Sundays.

27/05/2023

Singapore Airlines has announced it’s bringing back its flagship Airbus A380 to Auckland Airport. In addition to Emirates, it will be the second airline to fly an A380 into New Zealand post-covid.

By replacing the A350-900 with the superjumbo between Singapore and Auckland, Singapore Airlines will add 1526 seats per week.

The return of the popular A380 underlines Singapore Airlines' commitment to the New Zealand market, says General Manager George Robertson.

The A380 will operate as a seasonal service to Auckland between November 22 to March 31, 2024. SQ285 will depart Singapore at 10.25pm local time and arrive in Auckland the following day at 1.20pm. The return service will leave Auckland at 3.15pm, before arriving at Changi Airport at 8.55pm local time.

The airline is also set to launch three additional flights a week between Singapore and Christchurch Airport over the summer. These flights will start from November 19 and run until February 16, adding another 759 seats a week to the South Island. It’ll be operated by an A350-900 and will bring the total number of flights between the two cities to 10 a week.

23/05/2023

On May 24th Batik Air Malaysia announced that beginning on August 24th 2023 they would begin flights from Kuala Lumpur to Auckland via Perth. This service will be operated by Batik Air's brand-new Boeing 737 MAX 8s.

The first flights will operate from KUL-PER-AKL on August 24th-25th and AKL-PER-KUL on August 25th (timings and flight numbers below).

The flights will operate as OD195, departing from Kuala Lumpur on Mon, Wed, Thu, Fri, Sat, and Sun at 09:55 AM (local time). The flight then lands in Perth at 15:30 PM. The second leg departs Perth at 18:05 PM and lands in Auckland at 04:45 the following day, arriving on Mon, Tue, Thu, Fri, Sat, and Sun.

The return, OD196 will depart Auckland on Mon, Tue, Thu, Fri, Sat, and Sun at 07:00 AM (local time). The 737 MAX then arrives in Perth almost eight hours later at 10:40 AM. OD196 then departs Perth at 11:40 AM and arrives in Kuala Lumpur later that day at 17:20 PM.

Batik Air Malaysia's 737 MAX 8 aircraft is a state-of-the-art aircraft that offers a superior flying experience. With its sleek design and cutting-edge features, it provides passengers with enhanced comfort and safety. Batik Air Malaysia's commitment to passenger satisfaction is reflected in the spacious and modern cabin, featuring comfortable seating and the latest in-flight entertainment systems.

24/04/2023

To honour Anzac Day, New Zealand and Australia's most important national commemoration day. Multiple flypasts will take place.

Here are some of the flypasts set to take place:

In New Zealand, the RNZAF will conduct four main flypasts across the North and South Island, these consist of:

• A NH90 and A109 helicopter from No. 3 Squadron - Starting at Wellington's Pukeahu National War Memorial at 0605, and ending at Marton RSA at 1125.
• A C130H from No. 40 Squadron - Starting at Whakatane at 0550, ending at Henderson at 1145.
• A T-6 Texan formation from No. 14 Squadron - Starting at Soldiers Memorial, The Square, Palmerston North at 1000, and ending at Foxpine at 1329.
• A T-6 Texan formation from No. 14 Squadron - Starting at Seymour Square, Blenheim at 1200, and ending at Picton RSA at 1305.
• And a Harvard and Spitfire from Air Force Heritage Flight of New Zealand - Starting in Sanson at 0936, and ending in Marton at 1534. These aircraft will be landing at Masterton Aerodrome.

To view more about the RNZAF flyovers visit their website, https://www.nzdf.mil.nz/media-centre/news/anzac-day-flypasts-2023/?fbclid=IwAR2hhNbeanyrhVmos_5thVIReIMDUa1fc8SUfe9r-WkiyVSaRDZOM_DY7GA

In Auckland, the NZ Warbirds will conduct two main flypasts in Auckland, these consist of:

A North American T-6 Harvard Formation will depart Ardmore at 1034 and pass over the Auckland Cenotaph at 1100 before landing back in Ardmore at 1118. A Fighter Formation consisting of a Spitfire and a P-40 will depart Ardmore at 1044 and pass over the Auckland Cenotaph at 1100 before landing back in Ardmore at 1119.

To view more about the NZ Warbirds flyovers visit their website, https://nzwarbirds.org.nz/anzac-day-flypasts-2023/

In Tauranga, Classic Flyers NZ will conduct a few flypasts in Tauranga, these consist of:

Approximately eight aircraft will be doing the flypasts which include Boeing Stearmans, North American Harvards, Yak 52s and more. They intend on conducting a Tauranga Service flypast at 0945 and at the Mount Service at approx 0950.

To view more about the Tauranga flyovers visit their page, https://www.facebook.com/Classicflyersnz/posts/pfbid02YZid4qjMy8U5onyTKLgnA7iKvaNHnNPSUi4Y1ZLoN9ESNtg1VPuuPpGjPd98PrRTl

Photo by William Pierre, on Instagram

20/04/2023

Hainan Airlines announces plans to re-launch flights to Auckland

On April 20th Hainan Airlines announced that on June 17th 2023, they would resume direct flights from Shenzhen to Auckland. This service will be operated by Hainan's flagship A330-300 equipped with 'China's best business class'.

The first flight will operate as HU7931, departing from Shenzhen on June 17th at 02:45 AM (local time). The flight lasts just over eleven hours before landing in Auckland at 18:10 PM (local time). The return flight, HU7932 will depart Auckland on June 17th at 21:15 PM (local time). The A330 then arrives in Shenzhen almost twelve hours later at 05:00 AM on the 18th of June.

Photo by Aero Icarus.

18/04/2023

United announces plans to begin flights to Christchurch.

On April 19th United Airlines announced that on December 1st 2023 they would commence nonstop flights from San Fransisco to Christchurch. This service will be operated by United's sleek 787-8 Dreamliner equipped with the airline's state-of-the-art Polaris business seats.
​
The first flight to Christchurch will depart United's base in San Fransisco at 23:30 PM on December 1st (local time). The flight lasts over fourteen hours and lands in Christchurch on December 3rd at 10:35 AM (local time). The flight number between SFO and CHC will be UAL730. The return, UAL731 departs Christchurch at 14:15 PM and embarks on the shorter thirteen-hour flight to SFO. UAL731 then arrives in San Francisco at 06:30 AM the same day.

The United 787-8 can accommodate up to 243 passengers in a four-class configuration, with 28 lie-flat seats in United Polaris business class and 158 seats in United Economy, the remainder of the seats are a part of United's Premium Plus and Economy Plus.

Photos by Toshi Aoki and Alan Wilson.

15/04/2023

On April 14th Qatar Airways announced that on September 1st 2023 they would resume direct flights from Doha to Auckland. This service will be operated by Qatar's flagship A350-1000 equipped with the airline's state-of-the-art Qsuite.

The first flight will operate as QR920, departing from Doha on September 1st at 08:20 AM (local time). The flight lasts almost sixteen hours before landing in Auckland at 09:15 AM (local time).

The return QR921 will depart Auckland on September 2nd at 15:00 PM (local time). The A35K then arrives in Doha seventeen hours later at 23:15 PM.

Photo by Spencer Wilmot