Air NZ and Qantas angry at merger opponents

By CHRIS DANIELS aviation writer

Air New Zealand and Qantas have struck back at opponents of their alliance plans, accusing them of ignorance.

The airlines yesterday issued a statement responding to criticism of their scheme submitted to the Commerce Commission, which must decide whether to approve it.

Air NZ and Qantas say others who have contributed to the process or "third parties" have provided little supporting evidence for their views and lack expertise and knowledge.

Much of the venom in the latest document is reserved for those opponents connected with investment company Infratil, which owns 66 per cent of Wellington International Airport.

Wellington Airport is already involved in High Court legal action with Air NZ over its landing charges. The latest submission by Air NZ and Qantas describes it as a "profit maximising natural monopoly" and not an impartial third party.

The aviation knowledge and expertise of Infratil and the airport company related solely to airports and they were qualified to comment only on issues affecting that airport, it said.

Various opposing submissions were in effect coming from the same groups, said the airlines, either connected with Infratil or simply repeating comments of the Travel Agents Association.

"The repetition of a point by the same people does not give that point any greater degree of validity. The commission should not be deceived by this strategy, but should instead be concerned to address the continuing lack of any substantive evidence to support the repeated assertions of those parties," says Air NZ's new submission.

The Commerce Commission was told that "none of these third party submitters have demonstrated any special skill or knowledge relative to the statements and assertions they make".

Many of their statements, said the airlines, were not supported "by reference to any objectively verifiable evidence".

* The Commerce Commission is holding a conference on the planned alliance next month and expects to issue its final decision by the end of September.