FIRST CUT: Air New Zealand lifts annual earnings 2.5% despite rising fuel prices

FIRST CUT: Air New Zealand lifts annual earnings 2.5% despite rising fuel prices
Rebecca Howard
By Rebecca Howard Aug. 23 (BusinessDesk) - Air New Zealand lifted full-year earnings 2.5 percent despite significantly higher fuel prices, but the airline is slightly more downbeat about the current financial year as those costs continue to push higher.  The Auckland-based national carrier said pre-tax earnings were $540 million in the year to June 30 versus $527 million in the prior year. The company had expected to improve on 2017 earnings based on an average jet fuel price of US$60 per barrel. The price, however, increased 25 percent t...