Air New Zealand has lost its appeal against an Employment Court decision on airline pilots working on statutory holidays.

The Court of Appeal has upheld an Employment Court decision that members of the NZ Airline Pilots Association are entitled to a day in lieu and a pay rate of time-and-a-half for working on public holidays.

Association president Mark Rammell said the pilots were pleased with the result. "Air NZ appealed the decision of the Employment Court and we cross appealed and Air NZ's appeal was not upheld and our cross appeal was," Mr Rammell said....

A DELEGATION of government officials and travel industry representatives from New Zealand arrived in the city yesterday to tap Shanghai's booming market for overseas travel.

The group was led by New Zealand's Minister of Tourism Damien O'Connor, and will take part in the China International Travel Mart 2006, which opens on Thursday....

Wellington infrastructure investor Infratil has reported a 21 per cent drop in tax-paid profit for the six months to September.

But chief executive Lloyd Morrison said the $11.8 million profit was in line with expectations. The market agreed and shares closed 15 cents up at $4.90....

The threat of global warming taxes on air travel within Europe is a now a real possibility but the boss of Infratil Airports Europe doesn't believe it can curb growth in the fast-moving sector.

NZX-listed Infratil owns three European airports representing about 10 per cent of its total infrastructure investments. Chief executive Stephen Fitzgerald said they were yet to deliver profits but with airfreight volumes expected to double by 2010 they were well positioned to cash in....

The discovery of spilled brown powder caused a major alert in the domestic terminal of Auckland airport this morning.

But the powder was found to be "not hazardous" and "handed back to its owner" firefighters said.

There was no disruption to airport services.

New Zealand's new regional airline, Nelson based Kiwi Pacific is pleased to announce the commence of passenger, freight and charter airline operations from early December 2006.

The airline will offer booking online, over the phone and via travel agents. Kiwi Pacific will fly between New Zealand's major cities and surrounding destinations such as Auckland, Tauranga, Wellington, Nelson, Christchurch and Dunedin. Charter and freight flights will be available at almost all New Zealand airports.

After the closure of the only main competitive regional airline earlier this year, a gap has been left in the regional carrier market and Kiwi Pacific intends to take to the skies and offer competition with affordable flights for all New Zealanders.

The airline is using British Aerospace Jetstream, Fairchild Metroliner and Boeing 737 aircraft for passenger flights and Fokker Friendship aircraft for freight flights. The Jetstream's feature leather seating, air conditioning and are designed to offer a relaxed environment for travellers. The Boeing aircraft will offer economy and business class flights between main centres, which will be New Zealand's only airline to offer domestic business class seats.

Kiwi Pacific is looking forward to the first flight commencing early December 2006.

Consumers can find out more information by visiting the Kiwi Pacific website at www.kiwipacific.co.nz which will include all information on the airline and photos of the fleet by the end of the month.

...former Origin Pacific shareholder Mike Pero said he was not involved. There are indications that Auckland-based Airwork would at least provide the aircraft and operational expertise....

A new airline which claims it is starting domestic services based out of Nelson next month has been cautiously welcomed by Nelson leaders who are wary about the optimistic plans.

Kiwi Pacific announced on Tuesday that it would fly passenger services between the major cities and surrounding destinations, including Auckland, Tauranga, Wellington, Nelson, Christchurch and Dunedin.

Lamar Hargreaves, the owner of a Nelson-based internet and communications company called Supra, on Wednesday told the Nelson Mail he had established the Kiwi Pacific airline to fill the void left by Origin Pacific's demise....

Qantas and Air New Zealand have withdrawn their application for an alliance on trans-Tasman routes, after Australia's competition watchdog blocked the move.

The airlines said they had decided to withdraw their application to the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (ACCC) and the New Zealand Ministry of Transport for approval of the alliance...

...However, it was clear something had to be done to address the profitability of the route - which accounted for about 20 per cent of Air NZ revenue.

"We haven't got a master plan that is about to be rolled out tomorrow," he said. "We still have a series of routes across the Tasman that are very poorly performing for us. We will now have to review how we address those issues."

Serious doubt surrounds the credibility of a new domestic airline flying out of Nelson.

The man claiming to be behind the venture, Lamar Hargreaves, was yesterday hiding behind the closed curtains of his parents' Chidley Place, Nelson home.

A man at the house denied any connection to Hargreaves or the Hargreaves family when approached by The Press. He was later found to be Hargreaves' father....

Foreign Affairs Minister Winston Peters says he sometimes travels economy class to keep costs down.

Responding to claims by National that he is spending too much as a minister, Mr Peters said yesterday that he would defend his record of travel and expenditure to anyone.

He has spent $252,000 on air travel and hotels in the past three months, according to figures supplied to National deputy leader Gerry Brownlee.

Mr Peters said he tried to keep costs down.

"We do actually sometimes travel economy class."