United expects to write off a quarter billion dollars in assets because a decision by US regulators to allow more take-offs and landings in Newark, New Jersey, has diminished the value of United's slots there, the airline said Tuesday. United said it will record a non-cash charge of $412m in Q2, or $264m after income taxes, associated with its slots at Newark Liberty International. The charge follows a recent decision by the FAA to allow more flights to take off and land at Newark because airport congestion had eased. <br/>
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An Air NZ flight from Auckland to Sydney was forced to abort moments before take off after passengers reported smoke. A reporter on the flight described a "strange acrid smell" in the cabin before the plane ceased its taxi. Another passenger said the smell was detected just after the safety video had finished playing. She said the crew kept passengers calm and they did not realise a fire crew had come out to meet the plane until it was parked. They were waiting for another flight, due to take off at 11.30am, she said. Air New Zealand said NZ103 returned to the gate after an "engineering issue" was detected while the aircraft was taxiing to the runway. <br/>
THAI appears eager to remove long-standing snags involving its booking system, which is unable to synchronise with that of budget subsidiary THAI Smile. The flag carrier's board has reportedly prioritised the matter, which has impeded joint ticket sales and become a hassle for the travelling public. The directive is part of an operational integration push between the two airlines. The integration also forms an essential part of THAI's rehabilitation, now in the advanced stage, with an eye to turning THAI Smile's balance sheet back to black. Synchronising the different reservation systems -- Amadeus for THAI and Navitaire for THAI Smile -- is especially relevant now that the parent firm is transferring the majority of its domestic and regional services to its four-year-old subsidiary. <br/>