FURTHER SUSPENSION OF SERVICE

Bay of Plenty Times, Volume LXXVI, Issue 14639, 7 April 1948, Page 3

FURTHER SUSPENSION OF SERVICE

TASMAN EMPIRE AIRWAYS Further Tests To Be Made No Charter Aircraft Available (P.A.) Auckland, today. The Tasman Empire Airways service between New Zealand and Australia will be suspended as from next Sunday until further notice. The suspension has been caused by the refusal of the New Zealand Civil Aviation Department to return, pending further tests, the certificate of airworthiness which the company relinquished when it voluntarily grounded its aircraft on February 23 for modifications to their engines. No more charter aircraft are available.

In a statement in Wellington last night, the general manager of the company, Mr G. N. Roberts, said the service would have to be suspended because no charter aircraft were available from any source in Australia or New Zealand after Saturday. The last west-bound crossing would be made on Sunday.

“One of our flying-boats has been modified and tested to the satisfaction of Tasman Empire Airways,” said Mr Roberts, “but it has been decided to have these tests officially confirmed by the Royal Australian Air Force testing establishment in Australia. For this purpose, the modified aircraft will be flown to Sydney on Thursday. “The company hopes that the modified aircraft will be able to reenter the service late in April or v 1 v in May.” Mr Roberts added. “The company regrets the inconvenience this total disruption of the service will cause, but wishes to assure the travelling public that every avenue is being explored to bridge the gap between the cessation of chartered flights and the return to service of its own aircraft.”

Nearly 1500 people, who had made bookings to fly from Auckland to Sydney between now and the end of May. and a further 2000 or 3000 who had applied for travel since the company closed its bookings on February 23, will be affected by the decision.