The Commerce Commission today gained temporary injunctions stopping two Auckland companies, Tasman Charter Flights Ltd and Air Australia Worldwide Marketing Ltd, trading as they have been.

The companies and the people involved in them also trade as Surplus Travel and Frequent Flyers Club.

They must stop advertising cheap airfares to the public. An accountant has been appointed by the Court to control the money they now have, any further money they receive and to examine their accounts.

A hearing to consider when an application for a permanent injunction can be made will take place on Friday.

The injunctions were issued by the Auckland High Court and relate to alleged breaches of the Fair Trading Act. The Commission argued the companies had made no arrangements to provide the cheap airfares and accommodation advertised. Customers were not informed of conditions so restrictive that most could not comply with them and were misled that they could not get refunds.

The injunctions also apply to promoter Michael Knight, company directors Matthew Howden and Tatjana Mijaljica, and 11 other people who work for the companies.

Commission Chairman Alan Bollard said the Commission's objective was to stop the scheme which began advertising on August 17.

"The temporary injunctions are a step towards that, we are now working towards permanent injunctions" Dr Bollard said.

Media contact:Vince Cholewa, Communications Officer

Phone work (04) 471 0180, home (04) 479 1432