Air Nelson pilots due to walk

Air Nelson pilots were due to walk off the job for 12 hours at midnight last night over a pay dispute with the airline.

The Airline Pilots Association, which represents more than 100 pilots at Air Nelson, has been negotiating a new collective employment contract with the airline since July last year, but talks have reached an impasse.

The pilots are seeking pay rises of 4.5 per cent, 3.5 per cent, and 3.5 per cent over the next three years and are asking for a 4.30pm finish on the Friday before their weekend off.