Richard Branson slams alliance rejection with Air New Zealand. 14 September 2010

The title of the cartoon reads 'Richard Branson slams alliance rejection with Air New Zealand'. The words 'Virgin Blue' are in the centre of the frame. Richard Branson wearing a tshirt bearing the words 'Plane tiff' says 'You can't have the Trans-Tasman route losing its virginity'. Refers to the news the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission blocked a proposed alliance with Air NZ on the transtasman route. Sir Richard Branson, Virgin Group Chairman, told ABC he is baffled by ACCC's decision: "They have said in the past that Qantas and Air New Zealand can form an alliance if they so wished. And Qantas has alliances with British Airways; they have alliances with numerous airlines around the world. All we ask the competition authorities to do is to treat Virgin Blue, which is a much smaller airline, in an equal way and allow us to create a level playing field." Blue has already withdrawn from New Zealand domestic routes because of steep losses and Branson told Australia's ABC radio that flights from Australia to New Zealand under the Blue's Pacific Blue brand "were losing money." "We think if we can work together with Air New Zealand, we can offer a proper competitor to Qantas," Branson argued. "If we're a strong competitor, we can keep fares low and we can keep Qantas honest and we believe that's in the interest of the traveling public." (NZ Herald and ATW Air Transport World)

Quantity: 1 digital cartoon(s).