Air NZ seeks Queenstown rethink
- Latest News
- Monday, 26 July 2010
Air New Zealand domestic airline general manager Bruce Parton said the deal would be detrimental to tourism.
"No one knew they (Queenstown) were looking for investment, he said. They should have gone to market."
Parton added that the 24.9 per cent sale price was "incredibly cheap" at NZ$29 million.
"AIAL has some of the highest charges in the world. There is less regulatory control, which lands up squeezing every last cent out of the tourist."
He said Air New Zealand proposed a consortium of airlines, including itself, Pacific Blue, Qantas and Jetstar that could buy a stake in Queenstown Airport to ensure prices are kept down.
The group would not seek any dividends, but would reinvest profits in the airport infrastructure.
to ensure it remains world class and can cope with increased demand due to all airlines offering attractive domestic and transtasman fares.
"AIAL has displayed significant greed over several years and is adept at fleecing travellers. It would be naive to think it's not aiming to increase airline and airport charges, which will ultimately increase the cost of travel into and out of Queenstown," Barton said.
Auckland International Airport chairman Tony Frankham said Auckland and Queenstown would work more closely together to grow New Zealand tourism.
"This marks a further significant step in Auckland Airports plans to grow travel, trade and tourism between New Zealand and the rest of the world," he said.
