Air lares

Press, 20 February 1979, Page 18

Air lares

Sir, —As an irate, frustrated, would-be overseas traveller, I find that the reported remarks of Mr A. J. Healy. (“The Press,” February 17), take some swallowing. The Transport Department “acting as a gobetween” to date, has caused only confusion, censorship, delay and high air fares. There is censorship on a socalled free citizen, using the heavy penalties under the International Air Tariff Regulations, against those travel agents willing to explain to their clients the cheaper fares available elsewhere than New Zealand. Mr Healy has yet to prove “that the public will be better served with an equal fare package.” How? On past performances, Air New Zealand charges some of the highest fares in the Western world, for an indifferent service. 1.A.T.A., like the Shah, has toppled. No traveller wants a similar set-up by Mr Healy’s Department. — Yours, etc., W. F. GRANGER. February 19, 1979. Sir, — How’ much longer must we wait for Air New Zealand to pull its head out of the sand? South Island residents can take a day trip to Australia, buy advance purchase tickets to almost anywhere in the world for the family, then return home having saved several hundred dollars for the family trip. And would you believe that our free enterprise Government forbids travel agents to tell people about such things. Perhaps, my memory grows dim but it seems not so long ago we were promised (Air) New Zealand the way we wanted it. — Yours, etc., D. G. McKAY, Akaroa. February 16, 1979.