AIR New Zealand wants to increase its services to Hong Kong and run flights via its Brisbane hub as part of its Asian expansion, but believes those changes will not be possible until Cathay Pacific Airways gives the New Zealand market a higher priority.
The airline's market development manager, Albert Lovell, said the Hong Kong-New Zealand air services agreement precluded any expansion of the present twice-weekly direct 747 services.
At bilateral talks earlier this year Hong Kong had refused to agree to changes.
''We would like to see the opportunity to combine Australia and New Zealand. We can fly from Hong Kong to other points in Asia but we have elected not to do that. For example, we could fly to Taiwan, but that would not work with the strategy we have ofbringing people to this part of the world,'' Mr Lovell said.
''We would like to see Cathay have more interest in this part of the world. We would like to see a lot more co-operation with Cathay because we see that there are opportunities there that are not being used.'' Mr Lovell said Air NZ's New Zealand-Hong Kong market had previously been based on its New Zealand-Britain business. Now both business travel and individual visitors were growing. There are about 20,000 Hong Kong visitors a year to New Zealand.
''Also in Hong Kong, like Singapore, people are keen to get away for a holiday, so the ability for dual destination holidays is an opportunity that neither Cathay nor Air New Zealand is making the most of,'' he said.
Mr Lovell said crowding at Kai Tak had been given as one reason for refusing extra flights. But when Air NZ suggested flying four 767s a week instead of two 747s when Chek Lap Kok opened, it had been told landing slots would still be tight then.