Call For Submissions On The Air NZ/Qantas Alliance

The new lobby group Save Air New Zealand, formerly Debate Air New Zealand, is calling on all New Zealanders, all New Zealand corporates, all New Zealand tourist operators, all New Zealand sports bodies, all New Zealand charities and all other groups in New Zealand who utilise air travel to make a submission to the Commerce Commission on the proposed Air New Zealand/Qantas alliance.

Why?

Because Government chose to not meaningfully exercise its own right to assess whether the transaction between AirNZ and Qantas is in New Zealand’s National Interest.

Because the decision of the Commerce Commission has great importance in determining whether the transaction progress and its final form if allowed to progress.

To ensure that the Commission fully engages with all aspects of National Interest, impacted parties must make their interests known to the Commission.

This letter is an invitation to make a submission. This document - http://www.scoop.co.nz/mason/stories/BU0301/S00120.htm - gives a brief outline of the Commission’s process, issues, the broad outline of the airlines’ case, and contains a template for a submission.

Why Bother?

There are two reasons to inform the Commission of your interests:

1. It will make a difference. Only by making your concerns and position known can it be taken into account by the Commission.

2. Everybody in New Zealand is likely to be impacted by the transaction. Do any of the following matter to you?

- Air travel costs. The airlines acknowledge that passenger and freight costs will rise, the scale of the increase and the impact is at issue.

- Air services. Service frequency, destinations, in-flight facilities, booking facilities.

- Sponsorship. Both airlines are major sponsors of art and sport.

- The purchase of services. Will the airlines continue to buy the same goods and services and the same quantities in New Zealand?

- Marketing of New Zealand. Qantas is proposing an increased marketing role for the joint venture; selling New Zealand or Austalasia?

- Promotion of New Zealand culture. AirNZ features New Zealand music, wine, information, products on its flights.

- The forging/forcing of closer ties with Australia. Is coming under the Australian wing desirable? Is the loss of sovereignty meaningful?

For further information access our web site at www.debateairnz.org.nz and that of the Commerce Commission www.comcom.govt.nz or feel free to contact the undersigned

Ian Prior ONZM ---------------- Mark Blumsky QSO
Convenor ---------------- Convenor
04 4728369 ---------------- 0274 419446

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