Clark faces lessons in domestic economy

The Prime Minister will have to squash into an economy seat while flying around New Zealand on the airline her Government bailed out.

Soon, Helen Clark will face talkative constituents and nosy neighbours as she shuttles between engagements with her secret satchels.

MPs generally vowed yesterday to stick with Air New Zealand despite plans to drop the roomier business-class seats and inflight meals on its domestic routes in favour of expanding the economy section.

The PM usually travels business on Air New Zealand domestic flights so she can work and because she spends a lot of time travelling, often to several destinations in one day.

But now she faces the prospect of having to sit with the plebs unless she flies with the state airline's competition, Qantas.

Speculation around Parliament yesterday was that something would have to be done by the airline that was bailed out by Helen Clark's Government to the tune of $885 million.

Like setting aside seats up the front or block-booking MPs.

The Prime Minister was in Australia yesterday and a spokesperson said she had "absolutely no comment" to make on how Air New Zealand's changes would affect her travel.

Most MPs contacted by the Herald said they flew economy unless they were upgraded by the airline to business class or it was the only other seat available. They said Air New Zealand was their airline of choice and they would stick with it.

nzherald.co.nz/aviation

nzherald.co.nz/travel