Ansett abandons first-class fare

Press, 12 October 1988, Page 8

Ansett abandons first-class fare

By

LES BLOXHAM

Ansett New Zealand will abandon its first-class service and replace it with a much cheaper business class from October 24. Whereas a first-class ticket now costs 50 per cent more than a full economy ticket, the new "executive” class will cost only an extra $33, matching Air New Zealand’s Pacific class price. Ansett’s general manager in Sydney, Mr G. J. McMahon, conceded there had not been a big demand in New Zealand for the airline’s existing firstclass service. Queenstown

Ansett will not decide about its proposed jet service for Queenstown until it knows more about the vagaries of the weather in

the region. Mr McMahon said yesterday that he was concerned that cloud round the mountains would stop a pure jet from being able to approach the airport. “No matter how good an aircraft is, there would be times when weather constraints would prevent it from operating,” he said.

“If the people there are not prepared to spend money on navigational aids to overcome that problem, we must seriously question the wisdom of spending SUS2O million on an aircraft specially to fly there.”

Mr McMahon said he also wanted to know definitely whether Queenstown was serious about its plans for a new airport. “If they are, it might be better to wait,” he said.