Air NZ prices to stay put

Air NZ will not raise ticket prices or make further fuel surcharge increases even though soaring jet fuel prices are set to cripple its bottom line.

Ralph Norris, the national carrier's departing chief executive, said yesterday that the competitive transtasman market would not allow the airline to increase fares without losing customers.

This week, Air NZ will raise fuel surcharges for the fourth time since introducing the levy in May 2004.

Domestic fares will go up on average $6 and international fares by up to $20.