Air New Zealand buys stake in V3 Australian Online Tourism

9 December 2008
Air New Zealand buys stake in V3 Australian Online Tourism Specialists

Air New Zealand announced today that it had acquired a cornerstone shareholding in Australian online tourism specialists V3 (Vcubed Pty Ltd).

Air New Zealand Deputy Chief Executive Officer Norm Thompson said the
acquisition was part of the airline’s strategy to further diversify into the wider tourism
sector.

V3 provides its open booking exchange (OBXâ„¢) technology for tourism suppliers and distributors in Australia, and Mr Thompson said Air New Zealand and V3, through a joint venture, would establish a similar tourism exchange in New Zealand.

The OBXâ„¢ is available to all tourism and travel operators and distributors and will be run in New Zealand as a standalone business, independent of Air New Zealand.

It works by allowing distributors to access live book-able inventory from tourism operators in a real-time marketplace, and has exciting potential for New Zealand tourism operators.
Mr Thompson said a New Zealand exchange would help local tourism businesses by
providing them with a cost-effective way of increasing their reach to distributors.
“For example, it will allow a local hotel operator to offer accommodation directly to a
multitude of online retailers,” he said.
Air New Zealand’s commitment to playing a role in the wider tourism industry was behind its decision to acquire a stake in V3 and establish an exchange in New Zealand, he said. “Air New Zealand’s fortunes are inextricably linked with that of our tourism sector.

What’s good for tourism in New Zealand and our tourism operators will have natural
flow-on benefits for the airline.”

Having enjoyed outstanding success in the Australian market, V3 Executive Director and Chief Executive
Officer Shane Crockett said: “We are extremely pleased to have Air New Zealand as a cornerstone investor and strategic partner for this breakthrough initiative in digital marketing for both the Australian and New Zealand tourism industries.
“Air New Zealand is the perfect strategic partner for V3 to optimise the potential of the open booking exchange technology.
“Leading the market with the unique exchange model in Australia, V3 has already
seen many of the tourism industry’s key suppliers, distributors and government
organisations using the open booking exchange technology and now, our partnership with Air New Zealand will extend this successful model into the New Zealand market.”

Mr Thompson said former Air New Zealand General Manager Chris Hunter had been
appointed Chief Executive Officer of the new business that would offer a similar
tourism exchange service in New Zealand.

Mr Hunter has long been involved in the tourism and travel business, holding a
number of senior positions, most recently as General Manager Strategy and Planning for Flight Centre New Zealand. During his 21 years at Air New Zealand he held a range of positions including General Manager Global Direct Sales.

Mr Hunter said he was excited by the opportunity to positively contribute to the ongoing growth and success of the New Zealand tourism industry, and expects to make further announcements to the industry in the first half of next year as the new
exchange takes shape.

ENDS