Pero’s Mt Erebus flight attacked

BTN News
Thursday, 26 November 2009
A move by Auckland, New Zealand entrepreneur Mike Pero to charter a B747 in January for people who wish to travel to Antarctica to pay their respects to the victims of the Erebus disaster has upset Air New Zealand.

November 28, 2009 marks 30 years since flight 901 crashed into Mount Erebus, killing all 257 passengers and crew onboard.

Pero says 307 people can take part in his airline flight departing January 31, 2010 and is selling tickets priced from NZ$1,400. The flight will not land but intends spend a couple of hours in the region.


Air New Zealand issued a statement saying it was "deeply disturbed" by what appears to be a PR stunt on the eve of the 30th anniversary of the Erebus tragedy that claimed 257 lives and the attempt to leverage commercial gain from this anniversary.


The New Zealand carrier said Pero did not engage with them over his plans for the flight to Antarctica or any opportunities this might present to families of Erebus victims. 


Therefore, the airline finds his announcement three days prior to the anniversary of the tragedy to be nothing more than commercial opportunism of the lowest kind and deeply disrespectful, it said.

Pero’s Mt Erebus flight attacked

BTN News
Thursday, 26 November 2009
A move by Auckland, New Zealand entrepreneur Mike Pero to charter a B747 in January for people who wish to travel to Antarctica to pay their respects to the victims of the Erebus disaster has upset Air New Zealand.

November 28, 2009 marks 30 years since flight 901 crashed into Mount Erebus, killing all 257 passengers and crew onboard.

Pero says 307 people can take part in his airline flight departing January 31, 2010 and is selling tickets priced from NZ$1,400. The flight will not land but intends spend a couple of hours in the region.


Air New Zealand issued a statement saying it was "deeply disturbed" by what appears to be a PR stunt on the eve of the 30th anniversary of the Erebus tragedy that claimed 257 lives and the attempt to leverage commercial gain from this anniversary.


The New Zealand carrier said Pero did not engage with them over his plans for the flight to Antarctica or any opportunities this might present to families of Erebus victims. 


Therefore, the airline finds his announcement three days prior to the anniversary of the tragedy to be nothing more than commercial opportunism of the lowest kind and deeply disrespectful, it said.