Air New Zealand has presented its case for a code-share agreement with Qantas to a gathering of aviation leaders in Rotorua.
The Transport Ministry is currently considering an application made earlier this year by Air New Zealand to share flights with its transtasman rival.
Air New Zealand’s corporate counsel John Blair told delegates at the Aviation Industry Association annual conference last week that each day both airlines have on average 6,300 empty seats between them – which is equivalent to 11 empty aircraft crossing the Tasman each day.
He says it makes sense for the airlines to code-share to cut down on the excess capacity.
Blair strongly criticised Wellington Airport which opposes the code-share arrangement.
He says if the application is approved customers would have more flights to choose from.
