Air N.Z. still sales agent for S.A.

Press, 3 September 1986, Page 6

Air N.Z. still sales agent for S.A.

PA Wellington Air New Zealand is still acting as the sales agent for South African Airways because the Government has not yet officially told the airline it banned links between the two airlines a fortnight ago.

An Air New Zealand spokesman told NZPA yesterday the airline was still awaiting official advice from the Govern-

ment that it was not to take orders on behalf of the republic’s carrier. On August 18, the Government said Air New Zealand should end its sales agreement as part of a package of wider sanctions in line with a Commonwealth mini-summit resolution. It also banned some agricultural imports from South Africa and the Government tourist office promotion of South African destinations.

Yesterday morning, however, an advertisement appeared in the “New Zealand Herald” newspaper proclaiming S.A.A. to be the “fastest to Jo’burg.” It advised travellers to “contact your travel agent or Air New

Zealand for a range of extraordinary packages.” ; The Prime Minister, Mr

Lange, said he was checking whether Air New Zealand knew about the advertisement, placed by South African Airways.

“Air New Zealand has been requested by the Government to terminate, so far as it can, as swiftly as it can, its general sales agreement with the South African Airways structure,” Mr Lange said. However, the airline spokesman said this was not so.

In the meantime, he said, “we are still taking inquiries, because we are still getting inquiries from members of the public who wish to travel there.”