Queenstown Aiport Case: Air New Zealand VS Auckland Airport

On news that Auckland Airport Ltd [AIA.NZX] have secured a deal for China Southern Airlines to begin flights between Guangzhou and Auckland starting in March because of Auckland Airport's deal with Queenstown Airport at the end of 2010, we must revisit Air New Zealand Ltd [AIR.NZX] opposition to the marriage between Queenstown and Auckland Airports, especially in the light of the recent purchase by AIR of nearly 15% of Virgin Blue Holdings Ltd [VBA.ASX] last week.

Air New Zealand's Rob Fyfe and Bruce Parton last year indicated his airlines opposition to the AIA/Queenstown merger was because of their monopoly status and the "anti-competitive" nature of the company the port already had and the purchase of 27.7% of Queenstown Airport would cement that monopoly.

There are also several businessmen in Queenstown in opposition to the merger and factions within the Queenstown Council, who own the majority of the Queenstown port.

Apart from the clear benefits that the Chinese Airline will have on the New Zealand economy, benefits that I initially was dubious about last year when the deal was announced, the added revenue for AIA is going to be good for shareholders, especially as this route looks like it will develop further over the long term.

For Air New Zealand to continue their case in the Christchurch High Court is to be guilty of hypocrisy of the highest order.

While you may agree that Auckland Airport has a monopoly - it indeed does and that is why I am a shareholder, AIA's purchase of Virgin Blue is pretty much the same deal as engineered by AIA/Queenstown and also cements, for AIR, a history of anti competitive behavior in the Airline business in this part of the world and specifically the stranglehold they have on flights into the booming Queenstown tourism sector.

For them it is about protectionism of their near monopoly in Queentown and the benefits this has on their routes out of that port and Auckland Airport as well.

In effect they are attempting to do the same as Auckland Airport.

Don't expect AIA to take a court case against AIR though.

You wouldn't expect less from a quasi Govt Department though with taxpayer dollars bankrolling them.


Disclosure I own AIA shares in the Share Investor Portfolio


AIA @ Share Investor

Auckland Council look set for a Auckland Airport Takeover
Auckland City Council new AIA Policy Doc
Make me an offer I cant refuse: Auckland International Airport Ltd
Long Term View: Auckland International Airport
VIDEO - Simon Moutter on Australian Airport Purchase
Auckland Airport Capital Raising a fair call
Auckland International Airport lands Australian Ports
What Infratil sale of Auckland Airport stake means...
Is another Auckland Airport bid likely under a business friendly Government?
Latest Airport coverage
Cullen's move on Auckland Airport has far reaching effects
Cullen's move on AIA tax plan Anti-Business
AIA profit stays grounded
Softening opposition to CPPIB bid for AIA
Directors of AIA bribe brokers not to sell
What is Auckland Airport worth to you?
Second bite at AIA by CPPIB might just fly
AIA new directors must focus on shareholders
Auckland Airport merger deal nosedives
The Canadians have landed
AIA incentive scheme must fly out the window
Government market manipulation over AIA/DAE deal
DAE move on AIA: Will it fly?


Queenstown Airport Buyout @ Share Investor

Queenstown Airport: Court Case looks set to Drag
Queenstown Airport: Loud Voices & Loyalty
Queenstown Airport: Air New Zealand's Crocodile Tears
Queenstown Airport: AIA purchase good Long-Term but will cost shareholders Short-Term

Discuss this Stock @ Share Investor Forum - Register free
Download AIA Company Reports
Download Queenstown Airport Company Reports

AIR @ Share Investor

Queenstown Airport: Loud Voices & Loyalty
Long Term View: Air New Zealand Ltd
John Palmer Tipples on the Shareholder
Mike Pero and Air New Zealand: Capitalism vs Socialism
Rob Fyfe's "Environmental Extremism"
Reality Needs to Bite
Air New Zealand wants another taxpayer bailout

Discuss this stock at Share Investor Forum - Register free
Download AIR Company Reports




THINK BIGGER: HOW TO RAISE YOUR EXPECTATIONS AND ACHIEVE EVERYTHING
BY MICHAEL HILL





c Share Investor 2011

Queenstown Airport: Loud Voices & Loyalty

Yep, just like some folk down in Queenstown and management of Air New Zealand Ltd [AIR.NZ] at their plush new head office in the most expensive real estate in the country, in Auckland, I am fired up about Air New Zealand's attack on Auckland International Airports [AIA.NZ] buyout of nearly 25% of Queenstown Airport.

Management met with some Queenstown council drones yesterday to assuage their fears that the airport was stolen from the Queenstown ratepayers but it looks like there are a few loud voices down there filling newspaper and webspace in the hope they are noticed before local elections latter on this year. The majority of ratepayers must be pleased that the nearly $30 million that AIA paid for their share of the port might just be put to paying off council debt, if councillors do their jobs properly. This would mean less of a rates rise in 2011 and wouldn't that be a good platform to stand on for election.

There is an agreement by AIA and those on the council side of the airport deal for Auckland Airport to raise their 27.7% stake up to 35% but unless there is a firm deal to do that it looks like this deal could be compromised by the chatter.

As I said in my second post of this deal Air New Zealand's poke at AIA for being "anti - competitive, greedy and monopolistic" is kind of laughable considering the way the company has been ripping off New Zealanders for decades with sky high fares and their own monopolistic business practices and this story out today about an Air New Zealand's Starfish Card a "loyalty programme" that will cost users $800 per annum in order to get a regional flight discount is surely evidence that the airline will do anything as long as there is no competition to keep them honest.

Why not just charge customers lower fares ?

Answer? Because they don't have to as they have no competition in this area of their business.

This is the very reason Air NZ has taken a shot across the bow of Auckland Airport and clearly makes little sense given they continue to rort their "loyal" customers.

Meanwhile the NBR reports that AIA management are "bemused" by AIR NZ's public outbursts and I would have to agree and I must add confused by the AIR move.

Sour grapes.


Disc I own AIA shares in the Share Investor Portfolio


Queenstown Airport Buyout @ Share Investor

Queenstown Airport: Air New Zealand's Crocodile Tears
Queenstown Airport: AIA purchase good Long-Term but will cost shareholders Short-Term


AIA @ Share Investor

Long Term View: Auckland International Airport
VIDEO - Simon Moutter on Australian Airport Purchase
Auckland Airport Capital Raising a fair call
Auckland International Airport lands Australian Ports
What Infratil sale of Auckland Airport stake means...
Is another Auckland Airport bid likely under a business friendly Government?
Latest Airport coverage
Cullen's move on Auckland Airport has far reaching effects
Cullen's move on AIA tax plan Anti-Business
AIA profit stays grounded
Softening opposition to CPPIB bid for AIA
Directors of AIA bribe brokers not to sell
What is Auckland Airport worth to you?
Second bite at AIA by CPPIB might just fly
AIA new directors must focus on shareholders
Auckland Airport merger deal nosedives
The Canadians have landed
AIA incentive scheme must fly out the window
Government market manipulation over AIA/DAE deal
DAE move on AIA: Will it fly?

Discuss this Stock @ Share Investor Forum - Register free
Download AIA Company Reports
Download Queenstown Airport Company Reports

AIR @ Share Investor

Long Term View: Air New Zealand Ltd
John Palmer Tipples on the Shareholder
Mike Pero and Air New Zealand: Capitalism vs Socialism
Rob Fyfe's "Environmental Extremism"
Reality Needs to Bite
Air New Zealand wants another taxpayer bailout

Discuss this stock at Share Investor Forum - Register free
Download AIR Company Reports

Security Analysis: Sixth Edition, Foreword by Warren Buffett (Security Analysis Prior Editions) by Benjamin Graham Buy new: $41.77 / Used from: $33.50 Usually ships in 24 hours

c Share Investor 2010

Queenstown Airport: Air New Zealand's Crocodile Tears

The outburst of hot air from Air New Zealand Ltd [AIR.NZ] domestic airline general manager Bruce Parton over the weekend about the deal Auckland International Airport Ltd [AIA.NZ] stitched up over buying a piece of Queenstown Airport seems to be nothing more than sour grapes from a company that practices the same sort of monopolistic, anti-competitive business that the airline is accusing the airport of practicing - one of the reasons I bought AIA shares by the way.

"AIAL has displayed significant greed over several years and is adept at fleecing travellers. It would be naive to think it's not aiming to increase airline and airport charges, which will ultimately increase the cost of travel into and out of Queenstown," NZ Herald, 24 July 2010

Mr Parton's part of the airline has had a decades long history of over-charging on most of the domestic routes that it operates on and still does when not faced with competition in small towns - Napier is still a route that you have to take a mortgage out just to fly there and I am sure you have your own story to tell about your own local Air New Zealand rort.

Lets forget about that though. This is simply part of business. When you don't have a competitor to keep you honest there is always the temptation to charge more. In Auckland Airport's case they are able to charge more because of their size and dominance in this part of the world and that is unlikely to be challenged anytime soon simply because they are the biggest and will probably remain the biggest for many more years to come.

Mr Parton's suggestion that the deal between AIA and Queenstown Airport needs to be looked at by the Commerce Commission is a retrograde move by a manager without the foresight to make the move on Queenstown before AIA did. Is it really going to be a fair playing field if one or more of the airlines flying to Queenstown own the means to fly there and the Airport as well? I dont think so.

Whatever you think of Auckland Airport's business practices and charges - and some of them have been and still are highly suspect and overpriced - Air New Zealand operates in a similar manner and will continue to do so given the opportunity to own part of Queenstown Airport.

Better that a company with experience at running an airport, rather than a state run bureaucracy like Air New Zealand have a chance to fleece us all over again.

Mr Parton's cries are those of a hungry, anti-competive, monopolistic crocodile.


Disc I own AIA shares in the Share Investor Portfolio



Auckland International Airport @ Share Investor

Queenstown Airport: AIA purchase good Long-Term but will cost shareholders Short-Term
Long Term View: Auckland International Airport
VIDEO - Simon Moutter on Australian Airport Purchase
Auckland Airport Capital Raising a fair call
Auckland International Airport lands Australian Ports
What Infratil sale of Auckland Airport stake means...
Is another Auckland Airport bid likely under a business friendly Government?
Latest Airport coverage
Cullen's move on Auckland Airport has far reaching effects
Cullen's move on AIA tax plan Anti-Business
AIA profit stays grounded
Softening opposition to CPPIB bid for AIA
Directors of AIA bribe brokers not to sell
What is Auckland Airport worth to you?
Second bite at AIA by CPPIB might just fly
AIA new directors must focus on shareholders
Auckland Airport merger deal nosedives
The Canadians have landed
AIA incentive scheme must fly out the window
Government market manipulation over AIA/DAE deal
DAE move on AIA: Will it fly?

Discuss this Stock @ Share Investor Forum - Register free
Download AIA Company Reports
Download Queenstown Airport Company Reports


AIR @ Share Investor

Long Term View: Air New Zealand Ltd
John Palmer Tipples on the Shareholder
Mike Pero and Air New Zealand: Capitalism vs Socialism
Rob Fyfe's "Environmental Extremism"
Reality Needs to Bite
Air New Zealand wants another taxpayer bailout

Discuss this stock at Share Investor Forum - Register free
Download AIR Company Report





c Share Investor 2010

Long Term View: Best Stocks from the Series

In the Long Term View series (see links to each individual stock at the bottom of this post) of posts I have looked at stocks listed on the NZX in relation to their returns to shareholders over the life of their listing -what shareholders would now see in their back pockets if they had invested in the company IPO. The calculation of returns included dividends and tax credits and other relevant details.

The calculation of return is based on available data and may vary from stock to stock. An absence of data usually means a better return than I have calculated will be the case.

In each individual post the differences will be pointed out.

I have been surprised by the spectacular returns from some and not so surprised by the dismal returns of others but have learnt, once again, that the best returns come from holding good stocks for a long period.

My ideas on stocks as one of the better long-term investments have been reinforced by this series.

Below are rankings in the series from number one down to the bottom in terms of annual returns. Click on company name for more detail on returns.


Long Term View Series Ranking


1. New Zealand Refining Ltd [NZR.NZ] Over 21 years of available data NZR has returned 7800%, an annual return of just over 371%.

2. Port of Tauranga Ltd [POT.NZ] Over 18 years of available data POT has returned over 1475%, an annual return of just over 81%.

3. = Ryman Healthcare Ltd [RYM.NZ] Over 11 years of available data RYM has returned over 680%, an annual return of just over 60%.

3. = Mainfreight Ltd [MFT.NZ] Over 14 years of available data MFT has returned over 830%, an annual return of just over 60%.

5. Sanford Ltd [SAN.NZ] Over 22 years of available data NZR has returned over 895%, an annual return of just over 40%.

6. Sky City Entertainment Group Ltd [SKC.NZ] Over 14 years of available data SKC has returned over 540%, an annual return of just over 38%.

7. Auckland International Airport [AIA.NZ] Over 11 years of available data AIA has returned over 400%, an annual return of just over 36%.

8. Ebos Ltd [EBO.NZ] Over 13 years of available data EBO has returned over 455%, an annual return of just over 35%.

9. Freightways Ltd [FRE.NZ] Over 6 years of available data FRE has returned over 190%, an annual return of just over 31%.

10. The Warehouse Group Ltd [WHS.NZ] Over 16 years of available data WHS has returned over 500%, an annual return of just over 30%.

11. = Telecom New Zealand Ltd [TEL.NZ] Over 18 years of available data TEL has returned over 450%, an annual return of just over 25%.

11. = Telstra Corp Ltd [TLS.NZ] Over 12 years of available data TLS has returned over 300%, an annual return of just over 25%.

13. Pumpkin Patch Ltd [PPL.NZ] Over 6 years of available data PPL has returned over 125%, an annual return of just over 20%.

14. Contact Energy Ltd [CEN.NZ] Over 11 years of available data CEN has returned over 200%, an annual return of just over 18%.

15. Sky Network Television Ltd [SKT.NZ] Over 13 years of available data SKT has returned over 215%, an annual return of just over 16%.

16. Metlifecare Ltd [MET.NZ] Over 16 years of available data MET has returned over 540%, an annual return of just under 16%.

17. Delegats Group Ltd [DGL.NZ] Over 4 years of available data DGL has returned 50% an annual return of 12.5%.

18. Fisher & Paykel Healthcare Ltd [FPH.NZ] Over 8 years of available data FPH has returned over 93%, an annual return of just over 11%.

19. = Goodman Fielder Ltd [GFF.NZ] Over 4 years of available data GFF has returned over 30%, an annual return of just under 7%.

19. = Hellaby Holdings Ltd [HBY.NZ] Over 16 years of available data HBY has returned over 30%, an annual return of just under 7%.

21. Restaurant Brands Ltd [RBD.NZ] Over 13 years of available data RBD has returned over 60%, an annual return of just under 4.5%.

22. Briscoe Group Ltd [BGR.NZ] Over 9 years of available data BGR has returned over 21%, an annual return of just over 2.33%.

23. Fisher & Paykel Appliances Ltd [FPA.NZ] Over 8 years of available data FPA has returned over 11%, an annual return of just over 1.37%.

24. Air New Zealand Ltd [AIR.NZ] Over 8 years of available data AIR has returned over 6%, an annual return of just over 0.75%.

25. AMP Ltd [AMP.NZ] Over 12 years of available data AMP has returned minus 50%, an annual return of just over minus 4%.


Disc I own AIA, BGR, FPH, FRE, GFF, MFT, PPL, RYM, SKC, WHS shares in the Share Investor Portfolio


Download Company Reports from the Long Term View series






c Share Investor 2010

John Palmer Tipples on the Shareholder

Air New Zealand Ltd [AIR.NZ] chairman John Palmer has decided to side with the politicians over the great credit card swindle of New Zealand taxpayers.

Good on him for openly declaring his indiscretions but shareholders and taxpayers shouldn't be paying for John's tipples after work.

John reckons:

mini-bar bills are "just part of commercial life".
The professional director said yesterday that he felt sorry for some MPs over criticism received for claiming expenses such as alcohol in hotel rooms.
"I've got a good deal of sympathy for some of them, as someone who travels a fair bit and who does actually have a beer out of the hotel fridge and puts it on the hotel account, and spends a huge amount of time away."
Often hotel rooms were places of work, where staff made progress on decisions with colleagues or guests, Mr Palmer said. "That's just part of commercial life." Read More at Stuff.co.nz
Mr Palmer is also a director of AMP Ltd [AMP.NZ] Rabobank in this part of the world and Chairman of State owned miner Solid Energy.
I would argue that Mr Palmer has breached a line when he considers that shareholders and or taxpayers should be footing the bill for his alcohol indulgence.
Alcohol is definitely personal spending and at minibar prices shareholders are getting an even rawer deal. Have you checked out the price of a minibar Mars Bar recently!
Am I being petty?
Maybe, but I think spending like this shows a contempt for those employing you and paying your wages and a culture of waste, especially evident at Air New Zealand and Solid Energy.
Shareholders in Air New Zealand and AMP should get in contact with the respective investor Centres and let them know they are not happy with John's free spending.
You should be annoyed with John and his attitude. It is your money that he is wasting and as shareholders and taxpayers you deserve much better.
It is indicative of further waste.
Contacts
Air NZ Investor Centre
AMP Investor Centre
Solid Energy

Recent Share Investor Reading

• The History Of: Hallenstein Glasson Holdings Ltd
• Share Investor discusses Convention Centre proposal with Sky City CEO Nigel Morrison
• Burger Fuel 2010 Full Year Profit Analysis
• Long Term View: Port Of Tauranga Ltd
• ASB Bank: Customer "Service"
• NZX's Top 10 Dividend Returns

Discuss this Topic @ Share Investor Forum

Security Analysis: Sixth Edition, Foreword by Warren Buffett (Security Analysis Prior Editions) by Benjamin Graham Buy new: $41.77 / Used from: $33.50 Usually ships in 24 hours

c Share Investor 2010

Rob Fyfe's "Environmental Extremism"

A reader of mine brought this subject up, of sorts, yesterday. That is, the folly of investing in companies that base their business on airy fairy ideas like "green technology" based on the man made global warming myth or in companies whose grip on their business is so tenuous they will sink to the depths of using this kind of bullshit on competitors in the hope they make them look bad.

In my not so humble opinion Air New Zealand [AIR.NZ] is one of those companies.

Rob Fyfe, Air New Zealand CEO has recently labeled Emirates Airline alleged running of "empty planes" across the Tasman as "Environmental Extremism"

"For this competitor, the Tasman sectors are an easy add-on to their long haul flying and an opportunity to earn revenue at only marginal cost and load factors down around 50 per cent seem to be of no consequence," Read more

Fyfe told a gab fest of Global Warming zealots at the Green Skies meeting in Hong Kong.

Now using junk science to attack a competitor is one thing but Rob and the boys and girls down at Air NZ head office have been busy over a number of years spending 10s of millions of shareholder dollars developing nonsense bio-aviation fuels and asking customers to pay extra for their "carbon credit" deficit because of the naughty way they pollute when they choose to fly with the largely Kiwi taxpayer owned airline.

So it is in Robs best interest to attack competitors who don't appear to "care" as much about how filthy flying is because he is spending shareholder money in the hope this will give our airline an edge over the competition and to justify the spending of shareholder dollars - I think the Green Party call it Greenwash.

So Mr Fyfe's stance on the evil of flying is simply a race to the bottom where the eventual winner will be the first to award themselves a gong for being green in the hope it is good for business.

Ultimately though the reckless use of Air New Zealand shareholder money to pursue the bogus notion that every time one flies it is an affront to the environment and by setting your company up as a bastion of virtue above competitors by using this to attack them is environmental extremism itself and will ultimately end in tears and lost shareholder dollars when the whole Global Warming myth unravels.

Stand by for the fallout.


Air New Zealand @ Share Investor

Reality Needs to Bite
Air New Zealand wants another taxpayer bailout


Related Share Investor Reading

Carbon Credit Trading puts markets at extreme risk
Mark Weldon Strikes out on Carbon Trading
Quote of the year
Of Tulip bulbs and Tooth fairies
Global warning: Tax iceberg ahead
Mark Weldon in two minds about carbon trading

Related links

TZ1 Market
Kristen Byrne - 15 year old schoolgirl debunks climate change myth


Recommended Amazon Reading

Security Analysis: Sixth Edition, Foreword by Warren Buffett (Security Analysis Prior Editions) by Benjamin Graham Buy new: $41.51 / Used from: $29.98 Usually ships in 24 hours

c Share Investor 2009

Reality needs to Bite

In 2002 Air New Zealand Ltd [AIR.NZX] was at one of its lowest points in years, although like most airlines it had lost billions in the past, this time its predicament meant the New Zealand taxpayer bailed it out via the present Labour Government, to the tune of more than $NZ 1 Billion.

The alternative would have been the entire collapse of the airline, New Zealand's national carrier.

Since then it has done comparatively well, posting acceptable profits and attracting large shareholders.

Its profits since 2002 though have barely got close to the cool billion that the taxpayer forked out to rescue it and on opportunity cost alone has lost a minimum of $250 million on top of that.

Shareholders, taxpayers and voluntary ones alike, need to remember that the airline biz is an extremely fickle one. One that is littered with bankruptcy, failure and many broken dreams, especially in New Zealand.

Long-term, Air New Zealand, like every other airline that there ever has been, with a few notable exceptions, has never made any money.

Air New Zealand's advantage has always been its highly profitable domestic airline monopoly that has propped up its less competitive international division.

While in the past this domestic near monopoly and at present duopoly has had a handful of half serious challenges by competitor airlines that have all failed, the latest drive to compete against the large bully incumbent by Virgin Blue looks set to be the most serious challenge to the big Koru yet.

Virgin has large amounts cash to fund their push, larger than any other prospective airline has had in the past. Virgin has challenged the dominant incumbent airline in all the markets that it has entered. They are in New Zealand for the long haul and will make it hard for Air New Zealand in the most profitable part of their business.

Air New Zealand will fight back hard though but will risk a backlash by the Kiwi flying public when they lower their fares to match Virgin's low prices. Realizing that they have been gouged for generations could be a bitter pill for Kiwis to swallow.

Air New Zealand's small International division, while making acceptable profits by airline standards, is still struggling with meager returns on capital and would be losing money if the cash they were using to operate was borrowed(see taxpayer funded bailout)like most other airlines.

The current profit isn't likely to continue for much longer as the pressures of international and domestic competition start to bite. Being such a small airline Air New Zealand is already struggling hard to compete with the lower costs associated with being a larger player or a traditional low cost operator like Virgin or Virgin Blue.

Investors in airlines seem to get wrapped up in the perceived "glamour" of the airline biz while at the same time forgetting that rather than eagles soaring their investment is more likely to be a spruce goose or an albatross.


AIR @ Share Investor

Share Price Alert: Air New Zealand Ltd
Queenstown Aiport Case: Air New Zealand VS Auckland
Queenstown Airport: Loud Voices & Loyalty
Long Term View: Air New Zealand Ltd
John Palmer Tipples on the Shareholder
Mike Pero and Air New Zealand: Capitalism vs Socialism
Rob Fyfe's "Environmental Extremism"
Reality Needs to Bite
Air New Zealand wants another taxpayer bailout

Discuss this stock at Share Investor Forum - Register free
Download AIR Company Reports

From Fishpond.co.nz



Buy Every Bastard Says No - The 42 Below Story, by Geoff Ross & Justine Troy & more @ Fishpond.co.nz




c Share Investor 2007