By Angela Beswick
Air New Zealand will be working with the Government and Antarctica New Zealand to enable more relatives of Erebus victims to visit the scene of the tragedy, a company representative confirmed today.
General Manager of Airline Operations and Safety Captain David Morgan said a visit by six family representatives had shown ways the opportunity can aid the healing and grieving process for families of the 257 people on flight TE 901.
Talks with the Government will commence when Prime Minister John Key returns from overseas.
“The clear message we have had from the families we have been in discussion with over the past few months is that the opportunity to set foot in Antarctica and to see Mt Erebus, and visit if the weather permits, is where Air NZ and the Government need to be focussing their energy,” says Mr Morgan.
The final decision on whether there are more trips for family representatives ultimately rests with the Government and Antarctica New Zealand as the owners of the resources required.
Mr Morgan says if the Government’s view is that further trips are not practical, Air NZ will turn its attention to discussing the opportunity for family representatives to fly over Antarctica.
“Just like this first trip for six family representatives, it remains our firm view that those who lost loved ones should not have to pay to see the environment that had such an impact on their lives,” he says.
Given Air NZ no longer has the experience flying to Antarctica, Mr Morgan says an option that may be open to the Government is the use of the Royal New Zealand Air Force’s Boeing 757’s.
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