By MILNE, Amy MAINLAND AIR has pulled the pin on its new Dunedin-to- Invercargill flights because of a lack of demand and high fuel costs. However, the company said it had no plans to cease its Queenstown and Alexandra flights.

Backers of a new airline proposed by a Maori tribal trust in Nelson have decided the venture is "too risky" and have pulled out. Ngati Koata Trust chairman Roma Hippolite said the backers who had initially expressed an interest had decided not to go any further.

By NEAL, Tracy Air New Zealand is looking at investing "tens of millions of dollars'' in Nelson to develop infrastructure for its expanding link carrier Air Nelson, and eyeing up taking over the former Origin Pacific terminal.

By VAN DEN BERGH, Roeland CUTBACKS in domestic flights and the demise of Origin Pacific have had an impact on Airways New Zealand, which has reported a tax- paid profit of $9 million.

By VAN DEN BERGH, Roeland AIR NEW ZEALAND was refunded up to 20 per cent of its landing fees by Wellington International Airport during the past five years, helped by the demise of Origin Pacific last year, and Qantas reducing services.