Kangaroo tramples over Koru - National vows to fight Qantas announcement

Australia has just achieved its biggest win over New Zealand. We have been done over and it is a very dark day for travellers, exporters and tourism groups, National Party leader, Bill English, said today in reaction to the Air New Zealand/Qantas announcement.

“Travellers will end up paying higher fares, exporters will be put out of business as competition on the Trans Tasman sector goes and tourist organisations in New Zealand will be affected by the lack of competition in the air.

“We know that Virgin was keen to come to New Zealand which would have created competition. There is no incentive at all now for it to come if an Air New Zealand/Qantas monopoly gets the green light.

“National understands that Air New Zealand does need a long term partner to survive. There are many other airlines it could have done a deal with rather than let its main competitor come through the front door.

“The public don’t want this, and it is only happening because of Government incompetence over the handling of an earlier deal with Singapore Airlines.

“What ever arrangements are made to get this deal through the Commerce Commission in the short term, it’s bad for New Zealand’s long-term interests.

“National will do all it can in the interests of New Zealand to make sure this deal does not happen,” says Mr English.

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