Air NZ says Freedom Air not for sale
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Air NZ says Freedom Air not for sale
NZ Stuff
Air NZ says Freedom Air not for sale
27 February 2003
Air New Zealand today rejected arguments it should offload its budget carrier Freedom Air to get its proposed alliance with Qantas past competition regulators.
After announcing a turnaround in fortunes with a half-year net profit of $93.9 million, the airline also said it planned to extend its no-frills Express Class to transTasman and south-west Pacific routes.
During the period, Air NZ agreed to a deal for Qantas to inject $550 million in new capital by buying a 22.5 per cent stake and successfully launched its Express Class on domestic routes.
The planned alliance is before regulators, with critics such as Australian budget operator Virgin Blue arguing it will lessen competition. Virgin Blue, which has its own plans to fly to and within New Zealand, has submitted it should be allowed to buy Freedom Air, which flies trans-Tasman routes, as a condition of the deal going ahead. But Air NZ chairman John Palmer said there was no intention or need for his company to offload Freedom Air.
He said the combination of the Qantas alliance, Express Class and Freedom Air was critical to Air NZ's future.
"(Freedom Air) is an integral part of our business.
"We think the case we have put to the regulators is compelling. We are aware of others' comments, but for us it is important for our business."
Air NZ's latest half-year result compared with a loss of $376 million for the six months to December 2001, when write-downs from the collapse of Australian unit Ansett took their toll.
Revenues were up 2 per cent to $1.84 billion, while costs were down 8 per cent to $1.43 billion. Earnings before interest and tax (ebit) totalled $150 million, up $201 million, while cash flow from operations was $326 million, up $514 million.
Despite the company's return to comparative health, shareholders will not get a dividend.
Mr Palmer said the board was pleased with progress being made, but "there is much still to be done".
He said the strength of the New Zealand dollar and the easing of fuel prices had been a help, but management had to be careful in taking credit for those factors.
However, it could take credit for strong passenger growth and for controlling costs.
The company was holding to its December forecast for a full-year net profit before unusuals and tax of $230 million, despite a fall in bookings for next month and uncertainty over Iraq. March bookings were down 10 per cent, particularly in the American and Japanese markets, but showed recovery again in April and May.
A rights issue was still being planned, but the timetable had been put back from the first quarter to the first half of 2003. Meanwhile, chief executive Ralph Norris said the Express Class had been so successful domestically that it could be extended to some overseas services by the latter part of this year.
There might be some modifications in the service provided to take into account the longer flying times. Mr Norris said Express Class on Tasman routes would not be in competition with Freedom Air because different products were being provided.
Freedom Air was a point-to-point airline flying between secondary airports, he said.
Express Class offered passengers added value in connections with other flights, access to the frequent flyer programme and use of airport lounges.
Mr Norris said Air NZ had increased its domestic market share to about 77 per cent since the introduction of Express Class.
Of Virgin Blue's call for it to be allowed to buy Freedom Air, Mr Norris said: "I don't see the justification for giving somebody a monopoly in a product segment.
"I think that is effectively what Virgin Blue is asking for."
Air NZ shares closed up one cent at 52 cents.
===========================================
Pic: Freedom Air 737-300 ZK-SJE on approach BNE
http://www.jetphotos.net/viewphoto.php?id=1710
Photo: Wirraway (Ian Sharp)
===========================================
NZ Stuff
Air NZ considers Tasman express
By Felicity Anderson
Air NZ has revealed it is in the final stages of looking at extending its express class service to its transtasman and south west Pacific routes.
However, because those routes often meant three hours travel, the airline says it is having a bit of trouble deciding on food and beverage needs.
The airline's new Airbus 320s may be configured with two classes - business and economy class - something Air NZ chief executive Ralph Norris acknowledges as a no frills type of economy class.
Air New Zealand, which reports a profit of $94 million for the six months to December 31, 2002 on Thursday, admitted that it has been having some passenger servicing problems after the introduction of the express class to its New Zealand routes late last year.
But it says it was working hard to address those.
The problems have come about by a surge in the number of first time travellers, including the elderly and disabled.
However, the increase in passenger numbers has given the airline 77% of the market share, it claims - up from 70%.
It appears more Kiwis are also booking their own fares. The airline says the number of tickets its sells through its internet booking site is now around 40%.
The extension of the express class and increase in doemstic market share comes against a backdrop of Air NZ's proposed alliance with Qantas.
Qantas wants to get 22.5% of Air NZ for $550 million, but that has to meet regulatory and shareholder approvals on both sides of the Tasman.
Compeition watchdogs on both sides of the Tasman are examining the issue in minute detail and NZ's Commerce Commission has just closed its period for submissions on the matter.
At a briefing after its profit announcement, Air New Zealand questioned why it should have to hand transtasman competitor Virgin Blue a virtual monopoly in the low cost/secondary airport segment of the market.
Air NZ chief executive Ralph Norris was responding to a suggestion that it be forced to sell off its transtasman, no frills operator Freedom Air, in order to secure a proposed alliance with Qantas.
Norris says it sees Freedom as part and parcel of the product Air NZ supplies.
"Virgin Blue would be handed a virtual monopoly," he said.
Source: nzoom.com
Published on Feb 27, 2003
ONE News sourced from TVNZ, RNZ, Reuters and AAP
Air NZ says Freedom Air not for sale
27 February 2003
Air New Zealand today rejected arguments it should offload its budget carrier Freedom Air to get its proposed alliance with Qantas past competition regulators.
After announcing a turnaround in fortunes with a half-year net profit of $93.9 million, the airline also said it planned to extend its no-frills Express Class to transTasman and south-west Pacific routes.
During the period, Air NZ agreed to a deal for Qantas to inject $550 million in new capital by buying a 22.5 per cent stake and successfully launched its Express Class on domestic routes.
The planned alliance is before regulators, with critics such as Australian budget operator Virgin Blue arguing it will lessen competition. Virgin Blue, which has its own plans to fly to and within New Zealand, has submitted it should be allowed to buy Freedom Air, which flies trans-Tasman routes, as a condition of the deal going ahead. But Air NZ chairman John Palmer said there was no intention or need for his company to offload Freedom Air.
He said the combination of the Qantas alliance, Express Class and Freedom Air was critical to Air NZ's future.
"(Freedom Air) is an integral part of our business.
"We think the case we have put to the regulators is compelling. We are aware of others' comments, but for us it is important for our business."
Air NZ's latest half-year result compared with a loss of $376 million for the six months to December 2001, when write-downs from the collapse of Australian unit Ansett took their toll.
Revenues were up 2 per cent to $1.84 billion, while costs were down 8 per cent to $1.43 billion. Earnings before interest and tax (ebit) totalled $150 million, up $201 million, while cash flow from operations was $326 million, up $514 million.
Despite the company's return to comparative health, shareholders will not get a dividend.
Mr Palmer said the board was pleased with progress being made, but "there is much still to be done".
He said the strength of the New Zealand dollar and the easing of fuel prices had been a help, but management had to be careful in taking credit for those factors.
However, it could take credit for strong passenger growth and for controlling costs.
The company was holding to its December forecast for a full-year net profit before unusuals and tax of $230 million, despite a fall in bookings for next month and uncertainty over Iraq. March bookings were down 10 per cent, particularly in the American and Japanese markets, but showed recovery again in April and May.
A rights issue was still being planned, but the timetable had been put back from the first quarter to the first half of 2003. Meanwhile, chief executive Ralph Norris said the Express Class had been so successful domestically that it could be extended to some overseas services by the latter part of this year.
There might be some modifications in the service provided to take into account the longer flying times. Mr Norris said Express Class on Tasman routes would not be in competition with Freedom Air because different products were being provided.
Freedom Air was a point-to-point airline flying between secondary airports, he said.
Express Class offered passengers added value in connections with other flights, access to the frequent flyer programme and use of airport lounges.
Mr Norris said Air NZ had increased its domestic market share to about 77 per cent since the introduction of Express Class.
Of Virgin Blue's call for it to be allowed to buy Freedom Air, Mr Norris said: "I don't see the justification for giving somebody a monopoly in a product segment.
"I think that is effectively what Virgin Blue is asking for."
Air NZ shares closed up one cent at 52 cents.
===========================================
Pic: Freedom Air 737-300 ZK-SJE on approach BNE
http://www.jetphotos.net/viewphoto.php?id=1710
Photo: Wirraway (Ian Sharp)
===========================================
NZ Stuff
Air NZ considers Tasman express
By Felicity Anderson
Air NZ has revealed it is in the final stages of looking at extending its express class service to its transtasman and south west Pacific routes.
However, because those routes often meant three hours travel, the airline says it is having a bit of trouble deciding on food and beverage needs.
The airline's new Airbus 320s may be configured with two classes - business and economy class - something Air NZ chief executive Ralph Norris acknowledges as a no frills type of economy class.
Air New Zealand, which reports a profit of $94 million for the six months to December 31, 2002 on Thursday, admitted that it has been having some passenger servicing problems after the introduction of the express class to its New Zealand routes late last year.
But it says it was working hard to address those.
The problems have come about by a surge in the number of first time travellers, including the elderly and disabled.
However, the increase in passenger numbers has given the airline 77% of the market share, it claims - up from 70%.
It appears more Kiwis are also booking their own fares. The airline says the number of tickets its sells through its internet booking site is now around 40%.
The extension of the express class and increase in doemstic market share comes against a backdrop of Air NZ's proposed alliance with Qantas.
Qantas wants to get 22.5% of Air NZ for $550 million, but that has to meet regulatory and shareholder approvals on both sides of the Tasman.
Compeition watchdogs on both sides of the Tasman are examining the issue in minute detail and NZ's Commerce Commission has just closed its period for submissions on the matter.
At a briefing after its profit announcement, Air New Zealand questioned why it should have to hand transtasman competitor Virgin Blue a virtual monopoly in the low cost/secondary airport segment of the market.
Air NZ chief executive Ralph Norris was responding to a suggestion that it be forced to sell off its transtasman, no frills operator Freedom Air, in order to secure a proposed alliance with Qantas.
Norris says it sees Freedom as part and parcel of the product Air NZ supplies.
"Virgin Blue would be handed a virtual monopoly," he said.
Source: nzoom.com
Published on Feb 27, 2003
ONE News sourced from TVNZ, RNZ, Reuters and AAP
