Barry Soper: ZB senior political correspondent on the state of the Defence Force plane that delayed Luxon's trip to Melbourne - Heather du Plessis-Allan Drive

Commercial flights for the Prime Minister might be more favourable with the taxpayer.

ZB senior political correspondent Barry Soper says the only reason Prime Ministers like taking these planes is to have the media in tow.

"Having travelled on hundreds of trips with the Prime Ministers, it's not that often that you get a real breaking yarn on these trips."

LISTEN ABOVE

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.