A Maine coon cat named Mittens clocked up some serious air miles this month after being left on an Air New Zealand flight and accidentally flown to Australia and back. Mittens’ owner, Margo Neas, described the events as “both distressing and unacceptable” after paying $1948 to have her feline flown to Australia.

Air New Zealand’s latest addition, an ATR 72-600 registered as ZK-MZG, made its first scheduled flight from Christchurch to Invercargill today. It was the 30th aircraft of its type in the airline’s fleet and is the first equipped with Pratt & Whitney PW127XT engines,

Mittens, 8, was only supposed to take a one-way flight from Christchurch to Melbourne. She ended up being airborne for over 10 hours.

A baggage handler didn't spot Mittens' cage when it was blocked by a wheelchair on arrival in Melbourne Mittens the cat has clocked up lots of extra air miles after mistakenly flying between New Zealand and Australia three times in 24 hours.

The Air New Zealand pilot was told of the extra passenger during the ... The pet moving company that Neas used to arrange Mittens' travel met the cat on her return to Christchurch and ensured she was back on the plane for another trip to Melbourne ...

Air New Zealand has welcomed its 30th ATR aircraft, an ATR 72-600, into its regional operation. The aircraft has the registration ZK-MZG.

A Maine coon cat named Mittens became an accidental jetsetter this month when her cage was overlooked in a plane cargo hold and she made three trips in 24 hours between New Zealand and Australia.

Air New Zealand apologised to the family for the distress caused and assured that it would reimburse the entire cost of Mittens’ travel.

Air New Zealand's first ATR 72-600 with Pratt & Whitney's new PW127XT engine has entered commercial operations.

Of course, both are matters of personal preference, with strong arguments to be made for either side, but, every so often, the worlds of aviation and pets collide, occasionally resulting in cat-astrophic consequences.

A cat left behind on a plane, due to a luggage mishap, completes three international trips in one day. Air New Zealand issues an apology.

Mittens, an 8-year-old cat, was forgotten in the cargo hold of an airplane and ended up embarking on a very long journey.