Ansett contests claims in Air N.Z. advts

Press, 22 August 1989, Page 9

Ansett contests claims in Air N.Z. advts

By

LES BLOXHAM

Part of the soft-sell advertising campaign aimed at promoting Air New Zealand for the forth coming sale of shares has upset Ansett New Zealand.

It has taken exception to an advertisement which stated Air New Zealand had more than 85 per cent of the domestic market.

Ansett says the claim is false and not supported by facts.

It has lodged formal complaints with the Newspaper Publishers’ Association and Television New Zealand.

Ansett has alleged that the advertisement was an attempt to mislead potential investors about Air New Zealand’s present

and future position in the domestic market. In its letter of complaint, a copy of which was leaked to “The Press,” Ansett claims its share of the domestic market at June, 1989, exceeded 18 per cent and was growing. The airline said it believed that Air New Zealand’s share had in fact fallen 5 per cent during the last year.

Ansett referred to the conclusions of the Commerce Commission which, last April, had stated that Ansett had a 35 per cent to 40 per cent share of the markets in which it competed with Air New Zealand, and about 10 per cent to 20 per cent of the over-all domestic market. Since then Ansett has

increased its number of flights and destinations as well as developing a network of feeder services. “Given that the advertisement appears specifically targeted at creating a favourable image to underpin the upcoming share issue, we would contend that it has the potential to mislead potential investors about Air New Zealand’s present and future position in the domestic marketplace,” the letter said.

Apart from confirming that the complaints had been lodged, Ansett’s public relations manager, Mr Brian Lockstone, would not comment on the matter.

Air New Zealand said it had nothing to do with the advertisements