The collapse of overseas tourism and prospects of a slow recovery has spurred the Government to order a complete re-think of the visitor industry. Tourism Minister Kelvin Davis said today Tourism New Zealand would lead work ''re imagining'' the way tourism operates in the post-Covid 19 world. Spending of the border levy introduced last year and expected to raise $80 million annually will be reviewed. READ MORE: • Coronavirus: Govt ready to steady the tourism ship • What New Zealanders really...

Airways is considering withdrawing air traffic services at seven regional airports where there are limited or no commercial flights operating due to Covid-19 travel restrictions. The air traffic control services under review are those provided from Airways' towers at Hawke's Bay, Gisborne, New Plymouth, Rotorua and Invercargill airports. The airfield flight information service (AFIS) provided at Kapiti Coast Airport and Milford Sound Piopiotahi Aerodrome are also being considered. The...

Air New Zealand is planning to make nearly 1500 cabin crew redundant - a move slammed by their union as too rushed. An email sent to staff today confirms up to 1460 cabin crew members face losing their jobs. "We know time is not on our side as we burn through just under $14 million a month in crew salary costs," an internal email obtained by the Herald says. Leeanne Langridge, general manager cabin crew, said these were ''strange and extremely difficult times.'' Earlier this week the national...

A Lufthansa Airbus A380 gave stranded Germans a good look at a sparkling Auckland as it flew low over the city to farewell the country. The flight this morning is one of dozens of repatriation flights where airlines that don't usually fly here with aircraft not usually seen in our skies. Lufthansa is also operating Boeing 747s in the 10-flight rescue mission out of Auckland and Christchurch for thousands of Germans. Air New Zealand is also flying 10 flights this fortnight to get the stranded...

Qatar Airways will fly from Christchurch to Paris in another of the repatriation flights around the world during the coronavirus crisis. The airline will fly a Boeing 777-300 via Perth where it will pick up French nationals and then on to Christchurch where it will pick up more stranded tourists wanting to return to France. The mercy flight has been organised by the French Embassy in New Zealand. It is the first time Qatar Airways has flown to Christchurch and will make one of the longest...