Dubai Aerospace Enterprise (DAE) has tried to quash concerns that it would favour Emirates airline over other carriers if it won approval for its US$1.99 billion bid for Auckland International Airport.

The company acknowledged that some fear DAE and Emirates would pursue a common dedicated strategy for developing an Emirates hub in Auckland.

But Kjeld Binger, CEO of DAE Airports, said in Gulf News that the company would treat all airlines fairly despite the fact that DAE and Emirates are both owned by the Dubai government. “Emirates has stated publicly that it has no intention of establishing a hub in New Zealand, nor does it have plans to fl y to theUSA from New Zealand,” he said.

The comments were in response to objections raised by Air New Zealand, which said airports shouldn’t be affi liated with airlines and that it would fi le a complaint with the New ZealandOverseas Investment Commission.

“It is Air New Zealand’s strong view that the owner of Auckland International Airport Limited should not be linked in any form to an airline, so that there is no possibility of preferential treatment of any kind that would disadvantage any other operator,” the airline was quoted as saying in local media.

In a related development, Australia Pacifi c Airports Corp (Apac) said it had no current plan to bid for New Zealand’s Auckland International Airport, which has agreed to sell a stake to Dubai Aerospace Enterprise.

Apac, which owns Melbourne Airport and Launceston Airport in Australia’s Tasmania, said last month that an offer was “under consideration”. Apac is owned by AMP, Deutsche Asset Management, Ferrovial’s BAA and Westpac Banking Corp’s Hastings Funds Management.