Qantas plan worries operators

Friday 8th June 2001

By Nick Stride

The $5 billion-a-year tourism industry is casting a wary eye over Qantas' proposed Air New Zealand buy-in and may take a case to the government.

Major operators have agreed not to talk to the media until an industry position has been agreed. Some also fear jeopardising valuable relationships with the airlines.

But it's understood many are dubious about the commitment Qantas, if it were to gain control of the local carrier, would have to promoting New Zealand as a tourism location in overseas markets. There are also worries traveller numbers could be affected if a fall-off in competition translates into higher airfares.

One industry player pointed out Air New Zealand was the country's heaviest spender by far on promoting New Zealand tourism in overseas markets, running a network of sales and marketing offices around the globe.

Qantas' network was even bigger but it had offices in nearly all the locations Air New Zealand serviced, raising the possibility many of Air New Zealand's offices could be closed.

"I'd have to say Qantas was never a strong proponent of marketing New Zealand. In their presentations in Europe they don't even have the Tasman shown on their maps of route networks," the industry source said.

Prime Minister Helen Clark said this week the government would take a close look at the national interest implications of a Qantas Air New Zealand stake.

Comments from our readers

No comments yet