Chartered DC8 sought

Press, 20 April 1981, Page 9

Chartered DC8 sought

PA Auckland The Aqua Avia Society wants to take advantage of night hours and slack flying periods to-get efficient use from a chartered Air NewZealand DGB.

It believes the Auckland to Brisbane return air fare should be ?200 and not ?268, which Air New Zealand had offered society members, says its chief executive, Mr Matthew Thompson.

Mr Thompson said that negotiations with Air ’ New Zealand to charter a DCS were continuing.However, he was critical of the planning problems which Air New Zealand said it faced in rejecting the society’s charter application. “Seats are not full on the Auckland to Brisbane sector and the 2 hours 45 minutes flying time is not worth what Air New Zealand wants to charge,” Mr Thompson said. He said Air New Zealand’s costing structure was wrong and the fares were too high for protectionist reasons. The use of a DCS during night hours or slack periods would create a different complexion, on the company’s cost structure, Mr Thompson said, adding: “We have asked them to re-assess, the fare structure in the light of our proposals for night and week-end flights'.” Mr .Thompson - said that Australian airlines would welcome a charter arrangement with the society if Air New Zealand was unable to charter an aircraft, ■ Air New Zealand's 'general manager of corporate services, Mr G. W. Matheson, said the society had wanted to charter a DCB aircraft but for a variety of reasons one was not, available, when they wanted it.

Mr Matheson said that even if a DCB were available it was unlikely Air New Zealand could offer rates as attractive as those it was

offering for bulk booking at present. E: “These are already rockbottom prices,” he said. Mr Thompson said the fare offered to the society was not low enough but it indicated Air New Zealand was prepared to adopt a commercial approach. “We are writing to say we do not accept that figure,” Mr Thompson said. “We think if should be lower.”