We're safe, say airlines

WELLINGTON - The aviation industry says it will be safe to fly in New Zealand on New Year's Day.

A group comprising the Airways Corporation, Air New Zealand, Ansett NZ, the Civil Aviation Authority and Auckland, Christchurch and Wellington airports has spent two years resolving Y2K issues.

Y2K refers to systems failures when computers read the last two digits of the year 2000 as 1900.

The group said passenger safety was at the heart of aviation operations and the industry was confident it would be business as usual on January 1.

"The industry is testing and retesting these systems time and time again," it said.

"We started early, we have worked together and we are prepared." - NZPA