AIR TRAVEL TO GAMES

Press, Volume XCII, Issue 27735, 12 August 1955, Page 13

AIR TRAVEL TO GAMES

2000 PASSAGES TO BE PROVIDED Two thousand air passages to and from Australia will be provided py Tasman Empire Airways during the two weeks preceding the Olympic Games and another 2000 in the two weeks after them, according to the airlirie’s schedules for November and December, 1956. Normal echedules have been increased substantially over all three existing trans-Tasman air routes and there, will also be frequent flights direct from Auckland to Melbourne. In the peak demand periods from November 11 to 22 and from December 8 to 18 there will be 30 .return trans-Tasman flights. To carry New Zealanders to the Games, between November 11 and 22 T.E.A.L. DC-6 aircraft will operate six flights from Christchurch and 11 from Auckland direct to Melbourne. In addition . there will be three from Christchurch and 10 from Auckland direct to Sydney. But indications are that the whole period from mid- , October to mid-December will be exceptionally busy. Flights now scheduled may accommodate the traffic at present offering but more traffic is certain to develop and T.E.A.L. has already commenced discussions with other airlines concerning charter flights in case they are needed. Most of the passengers already registered to fly to the Games wish to travel on the two days immediately before tbte Games commence and return on the two days after they end. In practice such a heavy traffic has to be spread over several days and, of necessity, some passengers who would prefer to reach Melbourne the day before the Games operi are being offered reservations several days earlier. Others who desired travel over one route have been offered an alternative in preference to advancing their dates of travel too far ahead of the Games. Reservations are being allocated, in date order—according to the date on which application was first made. Some bookings were applied for as early as 1950. "All-out Effort” The general manager of T.E.A.L. (Mr G. N. Roberts) said “We are making an all-out effort to provide the greatest possible number of seats. We can already say that there will be some 2000 seats available and this figure may increase if charter flights are necessary . and available. Just at the moment we , are being delayed by the fact that so many registered passengers have ■ failed to confirm or decline. We must 1 soon consider those many passengers who have applied since July 5. It lo’oks ; as if the situation will clarify rapidly, ! however, and within a fortnight we . should know just how many seats re- • main unreserved.” • There has been some delay in the arrival of Olympic Games admission • tickets in New Zealand, due to a printing problem encountered by the . Olympic authorities, but they will be , available for air travellers from New , Zealand as soon as delivered from the • printers in Melbourne.