Airlines in fare dispute

Press, 10 April 1980, Page 1

Airlines in fare dispute

PA Auckland Air New Zealand and Japan Air Lines are at loggerheads over a fare J.A.L. offers on a new service that will begin early in July. J.A.L. advertises an Auckland - Tokyo - London low-season fare of $1420 — the same fare as for Auckland-Los AngelesLondon and Auckland-Singapore-London flights. Air New' Zealand says J.A.L. has no right to offer such a fare because New Zealand Government approval for the fare has not been obtained. Civil Aviation sources confirm Air New Zealand’s stand. Japan Air Line’s New Zealand manager (Mr M. I. Johnson) said yesterday the airline would continue to offer the fare. Government approval was expected, promised by the Minister of Tourism and Acting Minister of Transport (Mr Cooper), and on that basis it had been decided to advertise the fare, said Mr Johnson.

“We cannot be disadvantaged by not being able to offer a competitive fare,” he said. He described the row as a n “in-house” disagreement. between Air New Zealand and Japan Air Lines. Both airlines at present occupy the same building. “All we are doing is matching the other fares to London,” he said. Mr Johnson thought Japan would be a popular stop-over for New Zealand travellers who had already travelled .to Britain and stopped over in Los Angeles or Singapore. He also confirmed yesterday that while j.A.L.’s DCBs would be fully booked when they left Tokyo, more than half the passengers were expected to get off in Fiji. July was the peak season in Fiji. He expected the number of Japanese passengers into New Zealand to grow as soon as New Zealand became known as a new holiday destination.