Three airlines have reached financial settlements with a New Zealand regulator for participating in a price-fixing scheme in the global air freight market, the regulator said.

CATHAY Pacific Airways suspended four of its 10 Boeing 777-300 jets yesterday after an engine part fell off one of them and smashed on to a car as the plane flew over Thailand on December 1.

Cathay Pacific Airways suspended four of its 10 Boeing 777-300 jets today after an engine part fell off one of them and smashed onto a car as the plane flew over Thailand.

Typhoon Aere whipped northern Taiwan with gusty winds and heavy rain today, while China began evacuating 249,000 people from coastal areas as it braced for the storm that has killed at least seven people.

Typhoon Dujuan swept into southern China tonight after causing massive disruptions at Hong Kong's airport and forcing the closure of businesses and schools.

A typhoon which has caused havoc in Taiwan is now heading towards Hong Kong and China.

Asia’s tourism industry is still suffering the aftershocks of the SARS crisis, but business is starting to pick up and should recover by the end of the year, the head of the World Tourism Organisation predicted today.

HONG KONG reported a sharp jump in deaths from the SARS virus yesterday as Asia’s fourth-largest airline said it could soon ground its fleet if passenger numbers fell further.

Cathay Pacific Airways is to cut back its flight schedule following a loss in traffic brought on by the war in Iraq and the mystery “Asian flu” disease outbreak.

Cathay Pacific Airways has seen no downturn in bookings on its Asian routes since the Bali bombings, with the exception of services to the holiday island, said Andrew Herdman, director of corporate affairs.

Cathay Pacific Airways says its pilots have rejected its latest pay offer, setting the stage for possible flight disruptions next week.