Ansett orders new, quieter jets

Press, 8 October 1987, Page 4

Ansett orders new, quieter jets

LES BLOXHAM,

travel editor

Ansett New Zealand will get five,new Boeing, 737 series-500 aircraft valued at $2OO million, the first step of the airlines long-term - expansion plans.' :”, The high-technology Jets with their quiet fuelefflcleqt engines will roll off the Boeing production line at Renton, Seattle, in ■ J They will ,be part, of an order for .27 Jets iconfirmed yesterdayby Ansett Worldwide, the leasing arm of Ansett Industries in Australia. > Confirmation that five of the aircraft had been earmarked i for Ansett New Zealand was given last evening by the airlines chief executive, Mr Ross Keenan, i 1 “They will be the core

of our domestic fleet,” he Said. “Our extra requirements will be built around them.” Ansett now flies four early model 8737 series--100 jets, i Series 500 is the shortened .version of the new high-technology series--300. Mr Keenan said they would be fitted with about 100 seats, and would allow the airline to continue concentrating on $5 fire? quency rather than capa’Clty; ' .? , ■ Mr Keenan also hinted that Ansett would increase the size of its fleet during the two years .before the new aircraft arrive. A fifth Boeing 737 will probably be introduced early next year. ■ While expressing satisfaction with load factors, during the first 10 weeks

■of ■- operation, Mr Keenan did concede that revenue was “a little below” expectations. For this, he blames Air New Zealand for lowering; “on the day we took b«to flares 25 per cent for. what he. described an the same standard of Svtce it had proHe accused Air New £ Zealand of “giving away” t thriiHSistoeis class seats. is Air ‘New Zeeland faring? > 1 ‘: . A spokesman said loadings had been “very good” and that the public had responded enthusiastically to its “City Saver” and other fare initiatives. He admitted, , however, that* the new era of competitton had affected both revenue and profitability but he would not reveal any , , ;