Islamabad, Dec. 27 : As if its fragile financial health was not bad enough, the Pakistan International Airlines (PIA) has landed itself the dubious distinction of being forced to shell out close to Rs 2 crores for transporting illegal passengers abroad.

According to a latest report by the Auditor General of Pakistan Revenue (AGP), the PIA has paid the massive amount as penalty for carrying illegal passengers.

"PIA has paid 17.066 million rupees between 2004 and 2006 for transporting passengers without legal documents to five countries," the Daily Times said quoting the

Hong Kong  - Airport workers in Hong Kong were Friday reportedly considering strike action that could paralyse one of the world's busiest transport hubs.

Unions representing some 3,000 workers at Chek Lap Kok airport protested over a usual year-end bonus worth two months' salaries being halved.

Talks were due to take place Friday or Saturday and a union leader warned that some workers wanted to stage a strike if the Airport Authority refused to reinstate their bonuses.

On Monday, Kingfisher Airlines said that there is no case for decreasing its air fares in the immediate term.

Kingfisher Airlines spokesperson informed, “Once the Government brought aviation turbine fuel (ATF) under the Declared Goods category, it would immediately and significantly reduces fares.”

He further said, “The sharp and immediate spike in ATF prices earlier in the year has left a lasting impact on the bottom lines of the companies, leading to an accumulation of huge outstandings and liabilities with the oil companies and the likes.”

Budapest  - Unions called for a temporary end to a two-week strike at Budapest's Ferihegy International Airport, effective 10 pm (2100 GMT) Tuesday, for the benefit of Christmas travellers.

Unions leaders said the strike was being suspended for holidaymakers as well as to facilitate constructive talks with the German-owned operator of Hungary's only major international airport.

Munich - Eurocopter has won a major order from Brazil for 50 aircraft, the EADS helicopter division said in Germany Tuesday.

Lutz Bertling, chief executive of the division, did not disclose the value of the contract to supply the EC 725 transport helicopters, but said they are to be assembled in Brazil beginning in 2010.

The factory at Donauwoerth in the state of Bavaria is owned by the European Aeronautic Defence and Space Company (EADS).

Los Angeles  - Investigators on Monday began measuring the trail of a passenger plane carrying more than 100 people that skidded off the runway and caught fire in Denver, Colorado, on Saturday evening, the Denver Post reported.

Dozens of people were injured in the accident that occurred before take-off. with 38 people taken to hospital. All but five were released on Sunday, said Robert Sumwalt, a National Transportation Safety Board member leading the investigation team.