Air N.Z. to put on more skiers’ flights

Press, 2 April 1980, Page 2

Air N.Z. to put on more skiers’ flights

By

LES BLOXHAM,

travel editor ’

Air New Zealand undertook yesterday to provide, if necessary, extra ' flights across the Tasman to Christchurch' this winter to cater for the needs of Australian skiers. i ■ The airline’s general manager (commercial) (Mr M. A. Ramsden) said comments made by tour operators in “The Press” of March 20] about their difficulties in ob-i taining seats.for ski groups had been closely investigated. ,

“Air New Zealand. recog-' nises tlie situation that appears . to exist both ini terms of the demand for 1 seats between Australia and Christchurch and the reser-: rations already held,” he 1 said. ‘ i “Undoubtedly the demand! is far Beyond what was ex-| pected.” ' • | Air New Zealand andi Qantas have already drama-; tically boosted their capacity this winter compared with; other years. Both airlines! originally planned to provides 249,000 sector seats between the three Australian gateways and Christchurch from April to October, 13.5 per ! cent more than last winter. , But the A-demand by New; Zealanders' for the cheap low-season fare ’ was so enormous that Air New Zea-, land was ultimately forced! to - provide an extra 43201 seats on 16 special DCIO services between Christchurch and Sydney in June and July. This is a 25.2 per

cent increase across the Tasman. . j There is still a shortfall. Air New Zealand is holding 6000 seats for groups out of (Australia and 3500 seats for •groups out of New Zealand. (Part of the problem is that the airline will not know (whether the tour operators ihave fulfilled their ambitions | in selling everything they] (have applied for until about] a month before the flights] ] depart. ] The airline already has aci cumulated a wait-list for 900] group seats to Christchurch] from Australia, and for 500] west-bound out of Christ-: 'church. : Mr Ramsden said the airline would keep a close watch on bookings and/was prepared to seek approval (for more flights if they, were (required. .Much .' would (depend on the suitability of snow conditions at the South Island fields, he said.