Airlines - and able-bodied passengers - have a real economic incentive to ensure disabled embarkation operates smoothly.

United Airlines put its 787 back in the air yesterday, with both the airline and Boeing hoping to get the plane's four-month grounding behind them.

Travellers are likely to be hit with an increase in air fares following a hike in air traffic control levies, a group representing major airlines says.

A meeting with Sir Richard Branson looks set to pay dividends for Auckland video conferencing start-up FaceMe.

Travellers on Qantas and Emirates are set to benefit from a new alliance between the airlines that analysts see as a "medium" competition risk for Air New Zealand.

Analysts at Macquarie say further details in today's Budget of a possible government sell-down of Air New Zealand could help push the airline's share price.

The Commerce Commission is sticking to its guns in the long-running air cargo cartel case against Air NZ, which yesterday renewed its bid to have the case dropped.

Air New Zealand is calling on the Commerce Commission to end its long-running cargo price-fixing action - on the eve of a key hearing in the case.

New Zealand business travellers are more worried than others about flying economy but they're far more relaxed about airport security and immigration.

The Commerce Commission says it cannot comment on whether it has reached any resolution in its long-running air cargo proceedings against Air New Zealand.

An alliance between Qantas and Emirates has been given the green light by Australian regulators but part of the deal still needs approval in this country.

A top ranking Cathay Pacific executive is upbeat about the airline's New Zealand route and its global strategy despite flying into a rough financial patch in the first half of the year.

Kiwi travellers are being ripped off by three of the country's major airports due to inflated landing fees charged to airlines, a consumer watchdog says.

Singapore Airlines has asked its captains to volunteer for unpaid leave amid a global economic slowdown that has dented long-haul travel demand, the airline says.

Singapore Airlines Cargo has been fined $4.1 million for its role in colluding to fix prices for air cargo in the latest settlement with the Commerce Commission.

The head of China Southern Airlines wants to forge a relationship with Air New Zealand to build on each others' domestic networks.