Codeshare critics get the message

Air New Zealand chief executive Rob Fyfe confronted critics of the proposed Tasman code share agreement head-on yesterday when he delivered a lunch- time speech to the Wellington Chamber of Commerce.

Fyfe accused Wellington Airport owners - who include codeshare critics Infratil - of overcharging and not being prepared to work with airlines. He also accused codeshare critics of political grandstanding.

The Wellington Chamber of Commerce has said publicly that it believes the codeshare between Qantas and Air New Zealand could be bad for Wellington. It argues the proposal needs the full scrutiny of the Commerce Commission rather than just the approval of the Minister of Transport.

At the function - which had been arranged before the codeshare announcement - chamber chief executive Charles Finny introduced Fyfe.

"We want to help Air New Zealand through what is a difficult time in its relationship with the Wellington region on the code share issue," he said.

He emphasised that the chamber had "real concerns" about the proposal.

Fyfe said claims about the effects of the codeshare on the Wellington region were "highly emotive, in some cases pure political grandstanding and frankly quite naive".

He argued that transtasman passenger numbers out of Wellington were falling and that Wellington flights were only two-thirds full.

"One of the main reasons airlines can't make any money out of Wellington is the amount that we are charged in landing fees and operating costs by Wellington airport."

Fyfe said Wellington was one of the most expensive airports in the world do business with.