Air N.Z. defers purchase decision

Press, 20 February 1980, Page 10

Air N.Z. defers purchase decision

PA Wellington Air New Zealand has deferred until at least next month a decision on new aircraft for the 1980 s. The airline’s chairman, Mr E. W. Mace, has said there had been some delays and that a decision might be made at the next board meeting in a month. The board met last week.

“We need to keep our options open at this stage,” said Mr Mace. Last week representatives of the California based aircraft manufacturer, McDonnell Douglas, held meetings with senior Air New Zealand staff in Auckland. It is believed that McDonnell Douglas has offered Air New Zealand an attractive proposal in a bid to sell new DCIO-30 series aircraft. New DClOs would cost Air New Zealand about SNZ43 million each. The McDonnell Douglas proposal is seen as a last atempt to dissuade Air New Zealand from buying Boeing 747 jumbos, considered the most likely purchase. Air New Zealand’s chief executive, Mr M. R. Davis, visted Boeing’s Seattle plant as recently as a fortnight ago.

Air New Zealand is now under more pressure for a decision since the release of the Scott report on Wellington Airport. The report says no decision on airport extensions should he made until Air New Zealand’s decision on aircraft types is known. The Wellington City Council last week decided to ask the Government to encourage an early decision from the airline.