The desperate search for a passenger jet that vanished has been significantly expanded, as anger grows in China at the response by Malaysian authorities.

A NZ Air Force Orion is being sent to help in the search for the missing Malaysia Airlines flight, as airports - including Auckland - are asked to beef up security.

The disappearance of Malaysia Airlines flight MH370 – with 239 people on board – is unusual in that two days after the plane lost communication there is no reliable evidence of debris.

Family members of the two New Zealanders on board Malaysia Airlines flight MH370 have been taken to Kuala Lumpur to wait for news of their loved ones.

Investigators in Malaysia say the lack of debris from the vanished Kuala Lumpur to Beijing flight could indicate it "disintegrated" in midair.

Thai police say they are investigating a "passport ring'' as details emerged of bookings made in Thailand with stolen European passports for the vanished Malaysia Airlines flight.

We'll keep you updated with the latest from the search for missing Malaysia Airlines Flight 370.

Prime Minister John Key says it's unfortunate the wife of a New Zealand man missing aboard Flight 370 first heard about plane's disappearance from a journalist.

Air NZ will benefit from a weakened Qantas as the Australian airline battles to turn around big losses by slashing jobs, axing routes and grounding planes.

The disastrous results and huge job-shedding announced by Qantas yesterday is battering at the door of Australian Prime Minister Tony Abbott.

Aviation writer Grant Bradley with some thoughts on why Air NZ is doing so well right now...

Air NZ has this morning unveiled a record interim financial result for the first half of the 2014 financial year.

Australia's Government is moving to allow struggling national airline Qantas to be majority foreign owned.

Fiji Airways says the steep rise in departure tax from its home base is not putting off travellers as the airline embarks on an ambitious five-year plan to increase revenue.

Jetstar says its growing fleet of Boeing 787 Dreamliners is delivering substantial savings.

Qantas have launched an investigation into the death of a dog they were transporting on a delayed flight from Sydney to Auckland.

Air New Zealand's long-haul service has come out on top in a survey by Britain's largest consumer magazine.

The reason the Australian national airline is in such a deep funk comes down to the failure of its own business strategy and tactical manoeuvring, writes Fran O'Sullivan.

Air New Zealand's new in-flight safety video has been loudly criticised this week for its swimsuit-clad models and its overseas setting.

TV3 news anchor Hilary Barry has become the latest high-profile New Zealander to hit out at Air New Zealand's new safety video.

Our national airline's new safety video is far removed from the New Zealand I care about, writes Pam Corkery. Hell, it's not even about New Zealand.

Air New Zealand's alliances in Asia could help open the door for flying to South America, a region it says is a blank on its route map.

Jetstar was forced to check its aircraft for missing lifejackets over the weekend, after some were spotted being worn by a group of fans at the Wellington Sevens.

Passengers on Air New Zealand flights to the Cook Islands and elsewhere will be urged - for their safety's sake - to watch a video featuring cavorting swimsuit models.

A 20 per cent dive in Virgin Australia's share price has prompted a regulatory probe and a forecast of continued big losses by the airline, whose biggest shareholder is Air New Zealand.

Airlines claim legal measures to deal with violent passengers outdated, jeopardising safety and call for revamp.