Neha Jain: http://newzealandaviationnews.blogspot.com/22

At Phuket City Police Station, four youths held over motorcycle theft

1. Christchurch earthquake grounds air travellers
TRANSPORT in and around New Zealand was disrupted by the Christchurch earthquake after air traffic control shut down air space.

QANTAS, Virgin Blue and Jestar said they did not have planes on the ground in Christchurch but several en-route aircraft were diverted.

A temporary shut-down of New Zealand air traffic control meant planes in other centres were delayed.

Jetstar diverted a trans-Tasman flight to Hobart and another was diverted to Auckland.

The airline bases four aircraft in Christchurch and has more 100 directly employed staff and contractors in the city.

It said it was progressively contacting the workers.

``We'll work though what we need to do,'' spokesman Simon Westaway said.

``Christchurch Airport is currently closed and we haven't got advice on when it will re-open.''

Mr Westaway said air traffic control restrictions meant Jetstar operations in New Zealand had been grounded but it was hopefully of re-instating some flights later today and was also hopeful of operating trans-Tasman flights to Auckland.

He said the airline would provide full flexibility on refunds, cancellations and changes for affected flights..

Virgin Blue said a Melbourne-Christchurch aircraft was diverted to Auckland and the airline would not be resuming flights to C until it received further information about the runway, infrastructure and electricity at the airport.

Virgin Blue group executive operations Sean Donohue said passengers the affected flight would be accommodated there until the situation was clarified in Christchurch.

Mr. Donohue said passengers holding reservations for travel today and tomorrow were encouraged to go to the Virgin Blue website www.virginblue.com.au for updates and information regarding the airline's flexible travel policies.

Qantas said one flight had been diverted to Wellington and would be returning to Sydney.

A spokesman said a Melbourne-bound flight had departed Auckland and the airline was also intending to operate to the reverse leg later today.

2. Killer Quake Rocks NZ; Phuket Short of Police; Woman Wants AirAsia; Crashes Mar Phuket Storm

A major earthquake in the New Zealand city of Christchurch has left at least 65 people dead, hundreds more injured and toppled buildings in what the prime minister has described as "New Zealand's darkest day".

wsj.com Police said that multiple fatalities have been reported in several parts of the city, including two buses being crushed by falling masonry.

3. Pinnacle Airlines Corp. Releases January Performance Data
MEMPHIS, Tenn., Feb. 21, 2011 /PRNewswire/ -- Pinnacle Airlines Corp. (Nasdaq: PNCL) today released capacity and operational results for its subsidiaries for January 2011.

January 2011 Performance

2011*

2010*

Change
Passengers
1,372,069

962,463

43%
Available Seat Miles (000)
961,919

569,468

69%
Revenue Passenger Miles (000)
623,513

380,591

64%
Load Factor
64.8%

66.8%

   (2) pts.
Block Hours
69,408

45,736

52%
Departures
42,588

30,524

40%
Stage Length
431

372

16%

Fleet

   CRJ-200
145

124

17%
   CRJ-900
57

16

256%
   Q400
26

14

86%
   SAAB 340
59

34

74%

*Pinnacle acquired Mesaba on July 1, 2010

About Pinnacle Airlines Corp.

Pinnacle Airlines Corp. (Nasdaq: PNCL), a $1 billion airline holding company with 7,700 employees, is the parent company of Pinnacle Airlines, Inc.; Mesaba Aviation, Inc.; and Colgan Air, Inc. Flying as Delta Connection, United Express and US Airways Express, Pinnacle Airlines Corp. operating subsidiaries operate 202 regional jets and 83 turboprops on more than 1,500 daily flights to 196 cities and towns in the United States, Canada, Mexico and Belize. Corporate offices are located in Memphis, Tenn., and hub operations are located at 11 major U.S. airports

NEHA JAIN

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