Ansett team preparing Tasman link report

Press, 7 November 1978, Page 25

Ansett team preparing Tasman link report

Three senior executives of Ansett Airlines of Australia are currently preparing a detailed report on the viability of introducing a weekly flight between Christchurch, Hobart, and Adelaide. The Ansett team, from Melbourne, was led by the airline’s assistant general manager, Mr E. J. B. Forrester. He was accompanied by Mr J. McAllister. traffic and services manager, and Mr J. M. C. King, national manager of industry sales. They will report directly to Sir Reginald Ansett, chairman and managing director of Ansett Transport Industries, Ltd, which has just announced a record profit of 518.4 M for the last financial year. Total revenue was 8518 M. If Ansett considers there is sufficient

traffic to justify a New ZealandTasmania service, the airline will have to negotiate a bi-lateral agreement which would give Air New Zealand the right to fly the same route. However, because of the limited runway length at Hobart Airport, the New Zealand airline would be restricted to using its Boeing 737 s on the service, aircraft which are considered economically unsuitable for flights of that distance. Ansett, on the other hand, would use its larger Boeing 727 s which have a capacity for 102 passengers. The service would most likely be an alleconomy one operating at week-ends. Mr Forrester said there would be no delay in producing their report. He confirmed that they held informal and amicable discussions with Air New Zealand executives in Auckland before their two-day visit to Christchurch.