And 1994/95
In the early 1990s world of aviation, "open skies with Australia" was the repeatedly chanted mantra. The official name was the single aviation market, meaning that Air New Zealand would be able to fly Australian domestic routes. It was all set to happen in 1994, and then, literally days before it was due to start, it was blown out of the sky by the "Brereton Fax" (from Laurie Brereton, Minister of Transport, in the Australian Labor government) telling Maurice Williamson, his New Zealand counterpart, that the deal was off. And it’s never been on, ever since. It coincided with a crucial Qantas share float and Australia has aggressively pursued Qantas’ interests as its top priority ever since.
The privatised Air New Zealand developed a fixation on Australia as the key to its future as a ranking world airline. It was stunned by Australia pulling the plug on the single aviation market (as was the New Zealand government) and was determined to get into Australia at any cost (which, eventually, nearly came to mean its actual existence). It tried to buy into Qantas, but failed. The Aussies had other ideas – they told Air New Zealand that the only way it could get into Australia was to buy into Ansett.
Last edited by slamer.; 22nd Jun 2012 at 11:13.