Airways disappointed

Press, 23 September 1988, Page 4

Airways disappointed

BY

DAVID JONES

NZPA London British Airways said yesterday it was “disappointed” its bid for a stake in Air New Zealand had been rejected but hoped the close links between the two airlines would continue. “We are disappointed our bid has not been accepted but we won’t stop talking to Air New Zealand,” Mr Tony Cochran, British Airway’s public affairs manager, said. The New Zealand Government has announced it had chosen the bid of the Australian airline, Qantas, for 25 per cent of Air New Zealand, although other bids will remain on the table until midOctober pending further Tasman negotiations.

“We have always enjoyed a good relationships with Air New Zealand and I see no reason why this should not continue,” Mr Cochran said. “There may still be opportunities for further closer operation and commercial co-operation in the future. “It would be difficult to pin-point any specific thing at this stage but it could include a link of our services at one geographic point or another.” Mr Cochran refused to comment on whether the New Zealand Government was right to accept Qantas’ bid ahead of that of British Airways. “We are confident that our bid was a quality bid but it was entirely up to the New Zealand Government whether or not they accepted it,” he said.