Few economy seats to Perth available

Press, 6 January 1987, Page 6

Few economy seats to Perth available

Christchurch yachting fans will need a fat wallet if they plan to book a flight to Perth to watch KZ7 sail for the America’s Cup. Few economy seats are available on flights from New Zealand to Perth between mid-January and mid-February. The sail-off between KZ7 and Dennis Conner’s Stars and Stripes for the Louis Vuitton Cup starts on January 13. The battle for the America’s Cup begins on January 31. “This little boat of ours has created tremendous interest,” said the southern regional manager of Air New Zealand, Mr Paul Bowe.

“Demand for seats is

extremely high from January 25 to February 15.”

Fares from Christchurch to Perth range from $989 to $2984 return, depending which airline is used and what class seats are bought Travel agents say that the British Airways economy fare of $989 return is the cheapest, but no seats are left during the sailing of the America’s Cup. First-class seats are available for a return fare of $2984.

Demand is also high for seats on Air New Zealand flights, which go direct from Auckland to Perth.

The cost from Christchurch ranges from $1352

for a return Epic fare, which must be bought 21 days in advance, to $2354 for a return ticket in the business class.

Some seats were still available, said Mr Bowe. Qantas, which has a link between Auckland and Perth, has put on two extra flights later this month to cope with the extra demand. It has a return economy fare from Auckland to Perth of $1258. A number of passengers going to Britain or Singapore had arranged to stop off at Perth during the America’s Cup final, said a Qantas spokesman. He said that there had not been a great number of Christchurch people

buying tickets to Perth specially to watch the cup. Interest was keener in Auckland. Mr Ken Lusher, manager of Thomas Cook Travel, in Christchurch, said that most inquiries had come from people seeking the cheap fares, and they were hard to get now.

However, travellers could book a flight to Sydney or Melbourne and then catch an Australian domestic service to Perth.

One agent cast doubt about the wisdom of flying to Western Australia to watch two yachts racing.

“An armchair might be the best place to watch it from,” he said.