There is speculation that Air New Zealand's withdrawal from a proposed trans Tasman code-share deal with Qantas could be bad news for Wellington International Airport.

The two airlines pulled out of the proposal on Wednesday after a negative draft judgement from the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission.

Aviation analyst Peter Clark believes Wellington International Airport could come off worst as a result. He says Wellington International Airport could suffer most from any rationalisation the airline could now make....

United Future leader Peter Dunne is calling for the Government, as the majority shareholder in Air New Zealand, to subject the airline's board of directors to a rigorous examination over the failure of the proposed code share deal between Qantas and Air New Zealand.

"Now that the airlines have come to their senses after a four-year battle to create a monopoly over flights out of Wellington and have abandoned the code share scheme, questions must be asked why the board saw fit to waste so much time and resources on a plan that was opposed by regulatory authorities on both sides of the Tasman from the very start," he said.

"I believe the taxpayer, as the major shareholder in Air New Zealand, is entitled to see that the directors in charge of this remarkable failure and waste of money are held to account for their dismal performance," Mr Dunne said.

...Air New Zealand delayed the departure of its 10.30pm flight to Tonga until 1pm today. A spokesman said the move would allow Air NZ to assess the situation....

Air New Zealand is unlikely to follow through on a threat to make significant cuts to its transtasman service, industry observers say.

Falling fuel prices had taken the pressure off the airline since a code-share with Qantas was first proposed in April, analysts said yesterday.

"They won't make any radical changes," said Forsyth Barr head of research Rob Mercer. "They've got an environment that is probably going to work in their favour over the next couple of years, so hopefully that will help lift profitability."...

There is some risk to your safety in Tonga and we advise caution. On 16 November, politically-motivated violence broke out in central Nuku�alofa. Buildings were set alight and shops were looted by drunken mobs.

We advise New Zealanders to avoid the downtown area of Nuku�alofa especially areas around government buildings. You should also avoid demonstrations and large gatherings as the situation is unpredictable and violence could break out with little warning. Although foreigners do not appear to be targets for the violence, it is possible you could get caught up in violence directed at others. We recommend you follow the advice of the local authorities, and monitor the media and local information sources.

The New Zealand Government has been working with the Tongan authorities to achieve the resumption of commercial air services. Commercial flights will resume on Monday 20 November. The first Air New Zealand flight is scheduled to depart from New Zealand (Auckland) at 0930 hours 20 November NZ time. Travellers should check onward travel plans with their travel agent/airline and ensure they have appropriate insurance cover....

Air New Zealand resumes flying to Tonga today after New Zealand and Australian troops secured the country's main airport at the weekend.

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Air New Zealand's first flight leaves Auckland at 9.30am and a return service leaves Tonga at 1.50pm.

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The war of words between Air New Zealand [ NZX : AIR ] and Wellington International Airport, which began over the airline�s proposed code-share arrangement with Qantas, has taken a new twist.

This time the parties are rowing over carparking arrangements for Koru Club members.

Air NZ has sent a printed and laminated letter to Koru Club members saying the airport company has �decreased the parks available for the Koru Valet drop-off area by half. Then they increased the rent on our remaining parks."...

VIRGIN Blue says it is not seeking an alliance with Air New Zealand in the wake of the Kiwi carrier's failed trans-Tasman deal with Qantas.

A Virgin spokeswoman told The Australian that Virgin had not sought talks with Air New Zealand and was not looking at a tie-up....

...An Air New Zealand spokeswoman said the specially chartered Boeing 767, with a capacity to carry more than 200 people, had been packed when it flew out.

The airline's regular daily service was due to resume last night, and people eager to leave the tiny South Pacific kingdom were scrambling for seats, she said....

Iceberg sightseeing flights from Christchurch are being planned after glaciologists said the Antarctic remnants off the South Island could drift past Banks Peninsula.

A huge 1km-long iceberg sighted south of Dunedin was big enough to survive into waters off Canterbury, having made the journey from Antarctica over the past six to eight years, University of Canterbury lecturer Wolfgang Rack said....

Air New Zealand has appointed Dr Jim Fox as an additional non executive Director on their Board, a statement posted to the New Zealand Stock Exchange said today.

"Dr Fox is regarded as one of the leading developers of technology based businesses in Australia", said the statement.

He was the founder and is currently the Managing Director of Vision Systems Ltd, an ASX listed technology company with a market capitalisation of more than A$800m....

Pacific Blue is likely to consider flying New Zealand domestic services after the demise of a code-share between Air New Zealand and Qantas, industry observers say.

Air New Zealand's profits on key domestic routes meant it was ripe for competition, industry sources said.

Pacific Blue is an offshoot of Australian low-cost airline Virgin Blue. A spokeswoman said domestic services were "not on the short-term radar"....

Departing domestic passengers from Hamilton International Airport must pay a $5 development fee from January 8.

Waikato Regional Airport Ltd chairman Jerry Rickman said the levy was necessary to cover interest costs associated with $15.5 million of capital expenditure on the new terminal.

Some $10.5 million was attributed directly to the domestic requirements, with debt servicing costs of around $800,000...

From January 8 domestic passengers passing through Hamilton's revamped airport will have to pay $5 for the privilege of leaving the Waikato by plane, but the decision is understood to be going down like a lead balloon among Air New Zealand executives.

The departure tax will be forced on about 155,000 domestic passengers annually, and is expected to raise $600,000....

New Zealanders are snapping up cut-price flights to Australia, as airlines try to rally interest in transtasman routes.

Emirates sold out of tickets in its 48-hour "super sale" last night, a spokesman said. The airline offered return flights to Sydney from $304, Melbourne from $284 and Brisbane from $286, including taxes, surcharges and levies....