Air New Zealand has postponed an historic biofuel test flight, originally scheduled for this Wednesday, as the airline comes to terms with the tragic loss of four employees in an Airbus A320 crash off the coast of France.

The world-first biofuel flight will now take place in early January next year.

The two hour 747-400 flight from Auckland had planned to use a jatropha-based fuel, sourced from seeds grown on environmentally sustainable farms.

The parent company of the airline that was leasing the crashed Air New Zealand airbus A320 went bust in September (for developments see Latest news).

And XL Airways Germany, which only operates eight planes, had another serious incident last month in which a plane engine caught fire.

The Air New Zealand plane crashed into the sea early this morning as it was approaching the airport at Perpignan, where it had been undergoing maintenance.

Air New Zealand has confirmed one of its A320 airbuses has crashed in the Mediterranean.


It is understood seven people were on board, including possibly up to five Air New Zealand employees.

Two bodies have reportedly been recovered.

The airline says the aircraft was on lease to a European based company and was being operated by the leasee.



The plane crashed into the sea as it was approaching the airport at Perpignan, where it had been undergoing maintenance.

The A-320 was leased by Air New Zealand to German carrier XL Airways.