Many Japanese turned away by airline shortage

Press, 18 December 1986, Page 8

Many Japanese turned away by airline shortage

By

LES BLOXHAM,

travel editor

Hundreds of Japanese tourists are being turned away from New Zealand by a shortage of airline seats on flights between Tokyo and Auckland.

The situation is reported to be so bad that some tour groups are being forced to fly many thousands of kilometres out of their way to get here.

They are being flown from Tokyo to Auckland by way of Honolulu and, in some instances, Los Angeles. Others are being diverted on to flights through Taipei and Singapore.

Hundreds of Japanese who thought they had confirmed seats on tours have been told at short notice that they cannot go. The problem was revealed in Christchurch yesterday by Mr Terry Hayden, manager of Guthreys N.Z. Tours in Japan.

Mr Hayden said “hundreds and hundreds” of Japanese had been turned away because of the airline capacity shortage during the peak seasons. “This is not encouraging agents to sell New Zealand as a destination,” he said;

Mr Hayden said the problem had been caused by sales representatives releasing too many confirmed seats to travel agents. These in turn were made available to tour groups who later had no chance of getting the seats they had been promised. Sometimes, he said, travellers learned only on departure that they were being rerouted on a longer flight to New Zealand.

As many as 120 passengers booked on some flights had had to be rerouted. Others were upgraded from economy class at no extra cost if empty seats were available in first or business class.

Air New Zealand and Japan Air Lines both fly direct services between Japan and New Zealand. Cathay Pacific, Singapore Airlines, and Qantas provide indirect links. An Air New Zealand spokesman said he was aware that there had been a problem with some flights between a year and 18 months ago. However, he believed the situation was now being closely monitored. The spokesman said the airline overbooked flights because it had often been left with as many 80 “noshows” (passengers booked but who fail to check in). He is seeking more information regarding Mr Hayden’s allegations to find if Air New Zealand’s flights are involved. Mr Hayden, who emphasised that the problem arose only during the peak periods of summer and winter travel, predicts that the Japanese market will continue to grow in the years ahead.