THE BIG BOGY BIRD

Press, 2 August 1977, Page 18

THE BIG BOGY BIRD

By

LES BLOXHAM,

travel editor.

A “proud bird with a golden tail” is threatening to ruffle the feathers of Air New Zealand, Qantas, and Pan American Airways. They at present carry the major share of passenger traffic across the Pacific between the United States and Australasia. They want ft to remain that way. President Carter, however, apparently believes the airlines will not be hurt by more competition and. in spite of strong opposition by both the New Zealand and Australian Governments, he last week ratified a C.A.B. decision to grant South Pacific rights to a second American carrier, Continental Airlines. The airline, which pro-

motes itself with slogans such as “Fly our proud bird with the golden tail” and “Let us move our tail for you” is planning to operate three DCIO services a week between the United States and Auckland, and four to Sydney. The fight to clip Continental’s wings will continue at a govemment-to-govemment level over the next few months. Nevertheless, Continental is confident that it will win through in the end. “We’ve been through all this before — twice,” the airline’s public relations

director (Mr Joseph Daley) told me from Los Angeles. (C.A.B. approval has been given on two occasions, but both were vetoed by President Nixon). Mr Daley continued: “At this stage we are uncertain when you might see us, but we are quietly confident that it will be early in 1978.” The New Zealand Government will, under the terms of the 1964 bilateral agreement on air rights, be hardpressed to block Continental because, at present. Air New Zealand has twice the number of trans-Paclfic flights now operated each week by the

existing United States carrier, Pan Am. Both Air New Zealand and Pan Am argue that the route is adequately serviced and both have announced that they will be increasing the number of their flights later in the year. Continental, on the other hand, claims it would attract more tourists to the South Pacific region if given the chance. I believe that Continental will get that chance and, by the end of May, at least one “big 10” with a golden tali will be seen each week on the tarmac at Mangere. Unless, of course, Air New Zealand successfully argues that it hag neither the manpower or equipment to process the flights.