Air New Zealand slams Mike Pero

Air New Zealand has slammed a move by businessman Mike Pero to charter a flight to Antarctica for friends and family of Erebus victims.

Mr Pero said today he would charter a Boeing 747 in January for 307 people who wished to travel to Antarctica to pay their respects.

The Air New Zealand DC-10, Flight 901, crashed into Mount Erebus on November 28, 1979, killing all 257 passengers and crew.

Mr Pero was using the tragedy's 30th anniversary for commercial gain, Air NZ said in a statement today.

The airline is taking a limited number of family members on a memorial flight to Antarctica this Saturday.

"Air New Zealand has been working closely with the families of those lost in the Erebus tragedy over the past few months to understand their needs," the statement said.

"The airline finds his announcement three days prior to the anniversary of the tragedy to be nothing more than commercial opportunism of the lowest kind and deeply disrespectful."

The airline said Mr Pero could not guarantee a flight over Mt Erebus as weather conditions were extremely changeable.

Mr Pero said he was moved by the stories of those who had friends and relatives on board and he wanted to help people who still needed closure.

The trip would primarily be for family and friends of the Erebus disaster victims, he said.

Tickets will cost between $1400 and $8600, depending on seating preferences.

"The aircraft will not land but will spend a couple of hours in the region," he said.

- NZPA