Macquarie Airports, a fund managed by the Australian investment bank Macquarie Group, posted a first-half loss Wednesday but said it would reduce its stakes in two airports to cut debt, sending its shares up nearly 10 percent.

Menzies Aviation, a provider of ground handling of airfreight for freight forwarders and airlines, has been awarded a passenger and ramp ground handling contract by Virgin Atlantic Airways at the Sydney Kingsford Smith International Airport in Australia.

By VAN DEN BERGH, Roeland If Wellington International Airport's new chief executive, Steven Fitzgerald, was concerned about unveiling a pair of "pumpkins" at his first public outing, he wasn't showing it, reports ROELAND VAN DEN BERGH.

Should we name our major airports after those whom we revere? It's hardly a new idea -- Sydney Airport is named after Charles Kingsford-Smith and names such as Charles de Gaulle and JFK are now in common international use.

Qantas, a provider of passenger airlines, has reported that it would undertake a $10 million program of improvements to its domestic terminal at Canberra Airport to commence in February 2008.