A Qantas pilot who had repeated urges to crash his planes was allowed to continue working for three years after doctors declared him fit to fly.

Air NZ apologises for a crew manual which suggested flight attendants watch Tongans who wanted to "drink the bar dry".

High winds caught Stacey Hopper's plane as it took off, causing it to dip and clip the van that had dropped him at the airstrip, a good friend says.

A Gisborne man left without crucial medicine when his luggage went missing on a Pacific Blue flight says he owes his life to rival airline Air NZ.

A former Air NZ flight attendant claim the airline does more to help pilots battling alcohol or drug addictions than it does for "expendable" cabin crew.

Air NZ reported its first-half profit almost doubled as fuel costs tumbled and the airline reined in labour costs.

NZ's aviation watchdog says it has some airline pilots under surveillance for alcohol or drug abuse, but can't say how many, or whether they still fly.

Air NZ boss Rob Fyfe has accused police of intentionally trying to undermine confidence in the airline - a claim the police minister rejects.

A row has broken out between Air NZ and the police after claims of drink-driving staff and a drinking culture.