Keeping Air NZ alive was a good idea from several different angles
have to politely disagree with you there, much like protectionism and an inability to cope with market forces, the Govt walzing in to prop up a sick company because it couldn't survive on a level playing field reeks of stupidity that will eventually catch up with it.
The whole idea that by putting in 885 million saves jobs is a sad socialist approach that has no place in a freemarket economy. Air NZ wasn't about to die, the brand was (and still is) too lucrative it just would have traded under different circumstances.
Niche players are often the most profitable- ask Mr Branson
VB is taking a hammering at the moment and if you look at where niche players eventuallly go in the airline industry, swallowed up or spat out, you would see that it is a difficult place for Air NZ to be. Though I agree that the niche approach remains the most viable if they want to remain with some degree of independence.
It is a public company, with shareholders
Love that, after the 5:1 dillution of shares and the hammering of the share price my $50000 invested 5 years ago is worth about $6000 today.
Which makes 2.5 cents in real terms less than half a cent a share dividend.
But I'd haveto agree with Norris that Auckland Airport is a bad joke. Turning the Taxiway into a Runway because the profits have disappeared off elsewhere when the main runway has been due for upgrade since the late 70's is third world.