Feb 28 (Reuters) - Air New Zealand Ltd AIR.NZ on Thursday posted a 35 percent drop in half-year pre-tax profit, hurt by softening tourism and domestic travel.
The national carrier reported a pre-tax profit, the most closely watched measure of its performance, of NZ$211 million ($144 million) for the six months ended Dec. 31, compared with NZ$323 million a year ago.
The company declared an interim dividend of 11 New Zealand cents a share, in line with what it declared a year ago.
($1 = 1.4628 New Zealand dollars)