Air NZ tells Qantas: get on with it
Fri "Sydney Morning Herald" 8/11/02
Air NZ tells Qantas: get on with it
November 8 2002
Air New Zealand chief executive Ralph Norris says alliance talks with rival Qantas have dragged on too long and he wants the matter resolved before the end of December.
In an interview in Los Angeles yesterday, Mr Norris also revealed Air NZ had performed well in October, putting the airline on track for a "very strong" second quarter financial result.
"This quarter is shaping up to be a very strong quarter," Mr Norris said. "Passenger traffic out of Japan, compared to the same quarter last year, will be up 85 per cent."
The potentially strong second quarter follows what he described as the strongest "first quarter ever in the history of the company".
This kept Air NZ in line with its previously forecast pre-tax, pre-abnormal full-year profit of $NZ200 million ($176 million), he said.
Also helping was the success of its new no-frills airline, Air NZ Express, launched last month, with bookings up 28 per cent for November.
On the hot issue of alliance talks with Qantas, Mr Norris said:
"Both of us can't continue to sit on our hands.
"We know what the issues are, we have to resolve those issues between us quickly because we have been in discussions now for several months."
Mr Norris did not reveal any specific details, although he said Air NZ would not be handing control to Qantas.
"If Qantas thinks it will come in and dominate Air NZ well, it's not going to happen.
"So you're not going to see [Qantas] red tails on any of our planes."
AAP