ANSETT AIR NEW ZEALAND ANNOUNCES NEW GROUP SALES AND DISTRIBUTION STRUCTURE IN AUSTRALIA

The Ansett Air New Zealand Group will start the new financial year with a sharper focus on Group business development in Australia through a new Australian Sales and Distribution structure based on integrated representation of Ansett Domestic, Ansett International, Air New Zealand International and regional carriers.

Headed by Vice-President Australian Sales, Norm Thompson; the new structure will provide travel agents, national accounts and industry partners with a "one face" approach with key executives, national account managers and sales executive representing all airline brands.

"It is important that our structure and responsibilities are designed to meet the needs of our customers and to enable us to move swiftly in new directions," said Mr Thompson.

"As well as presenting a stronger Group approach to our Sales and Distribution activities, this new structure and responsibilities within it are an indication of our renewed focus on travel agency distribution channels," he said.

Among key changes, Mr Michael Reed, formerly General Manager Sales, Traveland, joins Ansett Air New Zealand in the newly created role of National Distribution Manager, responsible for distribution strategy, heading the Group's team of National Account Managers and managing key industry relationships.

"We are delighted to welcome Michael back into the expanded airline structure, he obviously has contributed enormously to Ansett's past success, in his roles as Director of Sales Operations and National Sales Manager Agency. We look forward to working with him again in a Group context, to continue to grow our relationships with our industry partners."

Mr Robert Ryan has been appointed to the newly created position of Sales and Market Development Manager. The Commercial Manager for the Group is soon to be advised.

"Part of our new approach will be a "Sales and Service Continuous Improvement Programme" focussed on the way we service our travel agency requests and requirements. Work will commence immediately to research and determine how we can improve on even our best response times and efficiencies," he said.

Other main changes to the structure includes the consolidation of agency sales divisions, previously divided into leisure and corporate markets to a single sales force covering both areas, a heightened marketing focus on both domestic and international and creation of a new Groups Sales Development Division.

The Ansett Air New Zealand Group will be represented around Australia by a State Manager Team including:

Mr Ross MacDiarmid; ACT Manager Ansett Air New Zealand Mr Rob O'Brien, VIC/TAS State Manager Ansett Air New Zealand Mr Glenn McCluskey, QLD State Manager Ansett Air New Zealand Mr Kevin Lyons, SA State Manager Ansett Air New Zealand Mr Chris Barnes, WA State Manager Ansett Air New Zealand A State Manager NSW Ansett Air New Zealand is yet to be advised.

All appointments commence effective 1 July.