Air pact with U.K. out?

Press, 14 August 1980, Page 22

Air pact with U.K. out?

NZPA London Air New Zealand is unlikely to renew its interchange agreement with British Airways when it expires on October 31. Air New Zealand’s European manager (Mr R. Gates) said the agreement was under discussion with British Airways but it would not be renewed in its present form. Under the agreement British Airways crews take over from their Air New Zealand counterparts in Los Angeles and fly an Air New Zealand DCIO twice a week to Heathrow: the only “direct” access Air New Zealand has to London. The British airline also takes Air New Zealand DClOs from Los Angeles on other routes. Non-renewal of the agreeIment will make little differ-

ence to New Zealanders flying to London because British Airways flights will still make direct connections with Air New Zealand’s Los Angeles - Auckland service but it will leave Air New Zealand free to choose its own route to Britain.

“Flying into Heathrow is one of those things that is always at the top of our thinking but our planning is

nothing before 1983,” said Mr Gates.

Air New Zealand is believed to be reluctant to tie itself down at a time when the whole international airtravel industry is in a state of rapid change and when important routes such as the Britain-Hong Kong link are being thrown open to intense competition, with a dramatic resultant drop in minimum fares.