Clement - the press release above itself re Ansett confims what Gary said. These guys watch the pennies while other airlines/interests make offers to Air NZ for whole or part of the business. Air NZ had no choice but to appoint, as they report in NZ Thursday, and wanted to be SEEN to have acted decisively to get rid of this bleeding turkey. Someone will buy it intact I am sure, and LH sounds like the main contender.