Alliance talks with Qantas have dragged on too long, says Air New Zealand chief executive Ralph Norris, who wants the matter resolved before the end of the year.
In an interview in Los Angeles, Norris also said Air New Zealand had performed well last month, putting the airline on track
for a strong second-quarter financial result.
"Passenger traffic out of Japan, compared to the same quarter last year, will be up 85 per cent," Norris said.
The potentially strong second quarter follows what he described as the strongest first quarter in the history of the company.
That kept Air New Zealand in line with its previously forecast pre-tax, pre-abnormal full-year profit of $200 million, he said.
Also helping the company was the success of its new no-frills airline Air NZ Express, launched last month, with bookings up 28 per cent for this month.
Across the whole airline, revenue passenger kilometres flown increased by 1.8 per cent, while capacity (available seat kilometres) fell a little over 4 per cent.
Its "passenger load factor" increased slightly in September, with an increase in European traffic attributed to the start of America's Cup racing.
On the issue of alliance talks between the airline and Qantas, Norris said he would like closure on the matter, one way or the other, within the next two months.
"Both of us can't continue to sit on our hands," he said.
"We know what the issues are. We have to resolve those issues between us quickly because we have been in discussions now for several months.
"I think for both of us it's a case of, let's either get on with it or agree that we go our own separate ways.
"My view is it would be desirable for this to be completed before the end of the year."
Qantas is reportedly interested in taking a 20 to 25 per cent stake in Air New Zealand.
