Virgin branded Big Bad Wolf in granny guise

By CHRIS DANIELS

The tit-for-tat public relations war between Air New Zealand and impending rival Virgin Blue has descended to the level of the barnyard.

Just a day after Air New Zealand's concessions to Australian competition regulators were described by Virgin Blue commercial head David Huttner as similar to "lipstick on a pig", the local carrier has counter-attacked with its own animal-related abuse.

"It is intent on knocking Freedom Air out of the skies, and Virgin Blue is nothing more than the Big Bad Wolf dressed up as Little Red Riding Hood's grandmother," said chief executive Ralph Norris.

Virgin Blue says it will not object to any Air New Zealand/Qantas alliance, but the low-budget Freedom Air must be sold first.

"Virgin Blue has at last come clean on its real intentions in relation to Freedom Air, and that is the total elimination of a potential competitor," said Norris.

"They are demanding a permanent monopoly."

If Virgin Blue succeeded, more than 200 New Zealand jobs could be vulnerable, many of them in provincial centres such as Hamilton.

"It would appear that nothing will appease Virgin Blue's never-ending demands."