Fed: Ansett and CASA in war of words

AAP General News (Australia)
04-14-2001
Fed: Ansett and CASA in war of words

By Sharon Labi

SYDNEY, April 14 AAP - Ansett and the aviation safety watchdog today became embroiled
in a war of words as the airline took out full-page advertisements attacking the decision
to ground its aircraft.

As inspections began on the first of Ansett's 10 Boeing 767-200s in Melbourne, random
spot checks continued on all its planes at east coast airports today.

About 30,000 passengers were booked to fly Ansett today with about 10 flights delayed
despite Ansett leasing other aircraft to boost capacity.

Ansett embarked on damage control today with newspaper advertisements nationwide after
the Civil Aviation Safety Authority (CASA) grounded its Boeing 767 planes on Easter Thursday,
its busiest travel day of the year.

The advertisements, signed by Ansett president and chief executive Gary Toomey, came
in the form of an open letter to all Ansett customers.

"Because of Ansett's deep commitment to maintaining public confidence in the safety
of aviation, we are complying with CASA's requirements," the letter said.

"However, we dispute CASA's view regarding the safety of our Boeing 767 aircraft operation.

"We deeply regret that CASA felt such a serious step as grounding aircraft was necessary."

CASA spokesman Peter Gibson said clearly Ansett wasn't happy with its actions - but
its priorities were safety and the travelling public - and it took the right and proper
decision.

"As long as they get on with the job of giving us a plan for improvements to their
company into the future, then the relationship will remain a good strong working one,"

he said.

Ansett spokeswoman Heather Jeffery said the advertisements were more an apology to
customers than an attack on CASA.

"I don't think we're attacking them, we're just expressing as we have all the time,
we're absolutely determined to prove to them that our airline operation is safe and to
meet their requirements.

"We think it's very regrettable that they felt such a serious decision was necessary
at this time," she said.

CASA has given Ansett just three weeks to show cause why it should not lose its licence.

The crisis comes amid an incident involving a Qantas Boeing 767 at Sydney airport this morning.

Emergency services were on standby as the plane landed after a light flashed in the
cockpit warning of a possible hydraulics problem on the descent into Sydney from Manila.

Inspections were to have begun on Ansett's Boeing 767s yesterday but CASA said the
airline failed to provide the necessary documentation in time.

But Ansett disputes this and said CASA only notified the airline at 3pm (AEST) yesterday
of the exact paperwork it required.

Ms Jeffery said she was not going to get into a "PR tit for tat" with CASA but its
claims were "misleading".

CASA engineers began their first inspections today but it was expected to be at least
two weeks before all 10 aircraft would be returned to service.

Ms Jeffery said no stone would be left unturned to ensure flights ran smoothly on Easter Monday.

"If necessary we'll put out a worldwide alert for short term aircraft leasing," she said.

Ansett said it would refund tickets of customers too nervous to fly with the airline.

The refunds will apply until Friday next week and passengers who were delayed will
be able to change their flights without penalties.

Public relations consultant Max Markson said the newspaper advertisements were just
the start of what would have to be a multimillion dollar campaign to win back public confidence.

"What they'll need to do (will cost) millions, I wouldn't be surprised if they threw
$5 million or $10 million at it," Mr Markson told AAP.

"They've really got to move aggressively into the marketplace to reaffirm their position
and they need to hone the fact that 12 months ago, they were named the second safest airline
in the whole world."

The airline was likely to offer cheap package deals and cut price fares as well as
incentives such as double frequent flyer points to entice travellers back to the airline,
he said.

AAP sal/cjh/de

KEYWORD: ANSETT NIGHTLEAD

2001 AAP Information Services Pty Limited (AAP) or its Licensors.