Air NZ steps up checks on US fliers

Air New Zealand says it is being extra vigilant at American airport check-ins for passengers who may be affected by swine flu, especially if they have flown in from Mexico.

As a precautionary measure, the airline has also told the 18 crew and two other staff who were on flight NZ1 on Saturday to stay at home for up to a week.

That flight from the United States carried 10 people from Auckland's Rangitoto College who have tested positive for influenza A after a trip to Mexico.

The airline has given the Health Ministry a list of passengers on NZ1 and said yesterday that it had been meeting additional requests to provide passenger lists for particular flights originating in the US.

A message from the ministry is also being read out on flights from the US before landing in New Zealand.

This was on top of standard operating procedures of checking that people were fit for travel and cleaning aircraft in line with International Air Transport Association requirements, group general manager international Ed Sims said.

Airlines cannot do much about the spread of infections between people sitting near each other. But Mr Sims said air-conditioning filters on Air New Zealand aircraft sifted out 99.999 per cent of airborne viruses, including flu.

Air New Zealand shares were down 3 cents to $1.08 yesterday.

In Australia, Virgin Blue and Qantas shares fell sharply amid fears that the virus could cause a slump in international travel. Qantas dived 4 per cent to A$1.90 and Virgin fell 5.4 per cent to A26c.

- © Fairfax NZ News