Market players say they are surprised at the drop in Air New Zealand's share price in the wake of the Government's 20 per cent sell-down.

Air New Zealand customers paying for mid-range priced flights will earn fewer reward points under changes to the airline's loyalty scheme.

Air New Zealand shares have fallen 2c to $1.63 in early trading, according to Bloomberg.

The world's largest passenger plane will live to fight another day. Airbus's A380 superjumbo got a fresh 50-jet order from Emirates Airline.

Air New Zealand has frequently been a political football for politicians of all stripes.

The Government has made $365 million from selling down its 20 per cent stake in Air New Zealand after pricing the shares at $1.65 a piece.

Auckland aviation business Airwork is being tipped to announce plans to list on the share market tomorrow morning.

Qantas has launched an attack on Air NZ's commercial strategy behind its investment in Virgin - saying it's a foreign bid to destabilise Australian aviation market.

According to the Labour Party leader, David Cunliffe, the timing of the Government's selldown of shares in Air New Zealand is arrogant.

Strong demand for the Air NZ share selldown is expected, but one broker says most will be coming from the bigger institutional investors.

The Government will sell 20 per cent of its stake in Air New Zealand today and tomorrow. The Herald tells you the 11 things you need to know.

Business editor Liam Dann on why the Air NZ share sale is a very different prospect from the SOE partial privatisations.

A Russian passenger airliner 'hit the runway and burst into flames' near Kazan this morning, killing 50 people - but officials say no children were among the dead.

Opposition parties are warning of higher fares and even a second taxpayer bailout after the Government put another slice of Air NZ on the block.

A New Zealand flight-simulator maker has cracked the United States and Chinese markets.

Growing numbers of private jets are coming to New Zealand, prompting corporate aircraft handlers to build a new terminal in Queenstown.

Air New Zealand says it has no intention of taking Virgin Australia private, a scenario which has been reported in Australia.

Life-saving training for flight nurses is under threat unless a sponsor can be found for mandatory helicopter training.

Mike Robinson was at 12,000 feet when a second plane carrying other skydivers struck the aircraft he was in, sending them all tumbling toward the ground.

Residents from Mt Roskill to Howick have added their complaints about overhead jet aircraft noise to those of protest groups in Epsom and Royal Oak.

An Air New Zealand flight swerved off a runway sparking a full emergency at Auckland Airport yesterday.

NZ's aviation authority will consider allowing use of electronic devices during takeoff and landing.

New Zealand passengers flying to and from the US will soon be able to use their electronic devices during take-off and landing at the American end of their flights.

Auckland Airport has released plans for a $2.4b 'airport of the future' that includes a sweeping crescent - shaped domestic and international terminal on one site.

Airline passengers won't have to "turn off all electronic devices" anymore - they'll be able to read, work, play games, watch movies and listen to music from gate to gate under new guidelines from the FAA.