Air N.Z.-Chile flights planned

Press, 26 August 1982, Page 23

Air N.Z.-Chile flights planned

Auckland

A fortnightly Air New Zealand service to South America could be functioning within two years, according to the airline's chairman, Mr R. A. Owens. The service would aim to capture a valuable slice of the predicted $lOO million-a-year trade between NewZealand and Chile and complement a shipping service to start later this year, he said. Mr Owens, who has just returned from 12 days -of trade talks in Britain and Mexico, said Air New Zealand was keen to put the country’s high-quality vegetables on the tables of chile’s top hotels. “As far as Chile is concerned, I am very optimistic we can increase trade. We have a market worth $lOO million a year and I want to see the freight side of Air New Zealand take advantage of it.

“Chile has an open-door policy on imports and even with their devaluation, it does not affect the products we are talking about.” He said products such as Wool yarn and milk powder could go by ship, and now

the trade ban had been lifted a monthly service could be re-established.

“We grow top-market commodities and these can go by plane. Our fresh peas, for instance, are so much better than Chilean peas. Our broccoli and carrots are much better than they grow in Chile. The top-rate hotel trade in Chile wants these.” Mr Owens said a decision on the frequency of the new air service, and where it would land in South America, would be made when the airline returned to profitability. (Mr Owens has pledged to put Air New Zealand back into the black by December 31, 1983). “I, personally, am extremely keen to see a service working but first we have got to get our act right and get back to profit, but I hope we would have a service going by 1984. I would say it would be once a fortnight.” He said freight was the “Cinderella service” of Air New Zealand yet it guaranteed the airline’s future and needed to be expanded.

Mr Owens said the trade ban with Chile had cost New Zealand $lOOO million.