Skybus changes its flight plan

Press, 26 November 1981, Page 6

Skybus changes its flight plan

Skybus has ended its yearlong'attempt to bypass the Air Services Licensing Authority with the announcement that it will seek an air licence as a completely restructured company. The decision came.'.' only hours after discussions ,be'tween the Associate Minister of Civil Aviation (Mr Malcolm), and the Aqua Avia Society and British Air Ferries. The head of British Air Ferries (Mr M. Keegan) said that the discussions concerned a proposal to “apply in the normal manner for an air licence." “Mr Malcolm said that if we applied for the licence in the proper way and put up the right people to run the

business, it would not be thrown out of court," Mr Keegan said. . .. ■ “It seemed that the way it was being attempted to'set up ( the airline did not find favour with the Government,” said Mr Keegan. V He said that it was highly unlikely that - his company would become involved in international flights. The : Viscount that '. was flown to Auckland , two months ago will leave New Zealand within a few days to fly the ..British Air Ferries’ Indonesian service. The Skybus, Viscount has flown two free. flights and has cost the Aqua Avia Society $500,000 in leasing costs since its departure from England.

Mr Keegan said his company had a two year .$6 million lease arrangement with Aqua Avia “but we let them off the hook because we do not wish to make anyone broke because of.-a few mistakes." ;

The Piako Aero . Clqb, which was the vital link fin Aqua Avia’s attempt to establish a new air service without the approval of the Air Services Licensing Authority, has no role to play in a normal application. It will be made by Skybus, Ltd, whose major shareholders will -be the Aqua Avia Society and British Air Ferries.

While the controlling interest in the company will remain in New Zealand hands British Air Ferries will provide the expertise and some of the capital to run the airline.

The secretary of the Aqua Avia Society, Mr Brian Shackleton, said yesterday that the decision to seek a licence was a step in the right direction.

Provision of a domestic airline service was part of the membership package for which the Aqua Avia Society had been striving and • the decision to • apply for the licence had . finally cleared up an important issue.

The vice-chairman of Aqua 'Avia, Mr David Culham, said that the 30.000 membership was a significant advantage in" negotiating group discounts.