An Air NZ pilot who fell into a deep sleep twice while at the controls of a passenger flight says he was fatigued because he couldn't rest properly in London hotels.

Air New Zealand has more than doubled it first-half profit after lifting passenger volumes and boosting yields on international routes.

Their bags - and they're not travelling light - are festooned with maple leaves, a subtle clue this young couple hails from everyone's second-favourite country.

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.

London's Stansted airport is in an "interesting" market - but Kiwi firm Morrison & Co says it's too soon to say whether it'll bid for the business.