Sir Paul Holmes' former flying instructor has tackled one of the greatest aviation feats - from South Africa to England in an open cockpit biplane.

Queenstown pilot Antony Sproull is about to set off on the adventure of a lifetime.

An investigation into a Mozambican Airlines flight which crashed in November has found that the pilot deliberately brought the plane down, killing all 33 people on board.

A pilot declared an emergency when he heard a bang in the light aircraft he was flying with seven people on board early this afternoon.

Jetstar will raise the transtasman travel stakes next year by putting on one of its new Boeing 787 Dreamliners - but for a limited time only.

Leaders from Japan and 10 Southeast Asian countries on Saturday pledged to co-operate in ensuring freedom of navigation.

Air NZ chief exec Christopher Luxon has carved out a big reputation for foot-on-the-throat attention to the bottom line.

The family of a pilot killed when his helicopter crashed in North Canterbury yesterday have described him as a loving and kind man who loved flying, hunting and motorbikes.

The helicopter pilot killed in a crash in North Canterbury today has been named as David Stanley Jones, 48, of Woodend.

A new front in the transtasman airline battle is opening up over summer with competition hotting up on Perth and Adelaide routes.

Air New Zealand says it is on track to boost earnings by 20 per cent for the first half of the year.

Air New Zealand says its on track to boost earnings by 20 per cent for the first half of the year.

American Airlines emerged from bankruptcy protection and US Airways culminated its long pursuit of a partner as the two completed their merger deal today.

Air New Zealand's Christopher Luxon hit the ground running when he took over as chief executive on January 1.

Qantas chief executive Alan Joyce has launched a defence of his management team's performance after issuing a grim profit warning and slashing jobs.

Emirates has launched the world's longest Airbus A380 non-stop service, flying the double decker plane from Dubai to Los Angeles.

Emirates has launched the world's longest A380 flight - linking Dubai with Los Angeles. The flight has a published flight time of 16 hours and 20 minutes. - Video supplied by Emirates.

Virgin Australia will go ahead with its A$350 million ($388 million) equity-raising after the Australian Takeovers Panel rejected a complaint about the plan.

Jetstar New Zealand head Grant Kerr is used to rolling with the punches.

Hobbit fans eagerly awaiting the release of Sir Peter Jackson's second instalment of his film trilogy were treated to a few larger-than-life movie moments today.

Hobbit stars have unveiled a giant, NZ-themed pop-up book in Beverly Hills, a dragon has been revealed on an Air NZ plane and giant eagles have descended on Wellington.

A painstaking operation to recover the remains of at least eight people killed when a police helicopter crash-landed on a busy pub in Glasgow continued yesterday.

An Air New Zealand flight from Auckland to Palmerston North was abandoned just after take-off yesterday after smoke appeared in the cockpit.

Auckland Council is in line for a $100m windfall, after Auckland International Airport this morning announced it would be paying out $454m to its shareholders.