AIR NEW ZEALAND and Qantas have lodged an appeal with the New Zealand High Court against the New Zealand Commerce Commission's determination to decline the airlines' Alliance authorisation applications. Air New Zealand chairman John Palmer said that the Boards of both Air New Zealand and Qantas had carefully reviewed the NZCC's final determination and had received advice from leading international economists and prominent competition lawyer Jim Farmer QC that the Commission's determination is seriously flawed and that the factual and economic evidence provide strong grounds for an appeal. Air New Zealand Chief Executive Ralph Norris said that much of the Commission's determination is based on analysis, assumptions and information that does not stand up to scrutiny, or indeed, bear any resemblance to the commercial realities of the aviation market.
http://www.airnz.co.nz