Latest from Airlines

Large crowd greets first UK flight
The first flight back from London after disruptions from volcanic ash has landed at Auckland airport.

150,000 pour through UK departure lounges
The quiet of the no-fly zone has been replaced by the roar of airplane engines across Britain today.

Anzac tourists likely to reach Gallipoli in time
Sydney Airport is ready to send flights to Europe after the reopening of airspace.

It's a strange new, old world ...
Europe has received a sharp shock of awareness about its addiction to cheap jet travel.

Wedding plans going up in smoke
A NZ couple's wedding plans are in tatters - they are grounded in London and their guests are waiting in Tauranga.

Air NZ skirts $3b ash fallout
The eruption is unlikely to have inflicted significant financial pain on Air NZ, analysts say.

Travellers staring at two-week wait
NZ passengers trying to fly to Europe are expected to be stranded here for at least two weeks.

Airport shutdowns disrupt UK supply chain
Air traffic could return to half its normal level in Europe if clouds dissipate overnight, EU officials have said.

Free trip home for Air NZ passengers who can't wait
Air NZ has started flying passengers home from stopovers if they are unwilling or unable to wait for ash to clear over Europe.

Costs literally sky high
It may have become apparent from my first half dozen blogs, that I am a fan of puns in my headlines.

Flightless Kiwis stranded - travel bans extended
More than 2000 passengers are stuck in NZ as airports remain closed until at least 7am tomorrow.

Travellers grounded as air restrictions continue
UK airspace will remain closed until tomorrow morning, a shutdown which is costing the air industry an estimated $282 million a day.

Volcanic dust aborts Polish funeral trip
The Governor-General has been forced to cancel plans to attend the late Polish President's funeral.

Ash big threat to jet engines
Enhanced engine technology has magnified the risk of fatal damage to aircraft flying into volcanic ash clouds, writes Mathew Dearnaley.

Random drug, alcohol checks for pilots
NZ pilots are to be randomly checked to ensure they are telling the truth about any past drug and alcohol convictions.

Air NZ to code share with Continental Airlines
A new agreement gives Air NZ access to parts of the US not previously available with its current airline partners.

Airline to introduce coin-operated toilets
The Irish carrier Ryanair is planning to make its toilets coin-operated.