CANCELLATIONS ON T.E.A.L.

Press, Volume XCVII, Issue 28660, 9 August 1958, Page 7

CANCELLATIONS ON T.E.A.L.

Manager Comments On Report The report of the air vigilance committee to the Canterbury Chamber of Commerce could give false impression of the operations of Tasman Empire Airways, Ltdsaid the Christchurch manager of the airline (Mr F. G. Hill) yesterday. He said the cancellation rate of 60 per cent, reported to the chamber was correct if it was applied to the number of cancellations received for any particular flight from the time bookings were opened to the time the flight left. “We know what we carried last year, we have an indication of the likely, increase this year, and services are scheduled to accom-

j modate the expected traffic,” he ’ said. Where the demand appeared greater than the services available, it was the company’s policy to put on special flights, but. these were usually poorly patronised, he said. Mr Hill said that at the peak B period the demand was heavy, but this was a fact common with all f transport and accommodation 2 services. s “I would therefore question the ' figure quoted of 50 per cent, of 1 passengers who are turned away from Melbourne to Sydney,” he said. This did not agree with the f company’s assessment. 2 This year, T.E.A.L. was providing up to five services a week between Christchurch and Ausr tralia operating into and out of ’ Sydney and Melbourne. The. ext tended services would operate over a longer period than last t year. I “Each seat is good for only a . certain hour on a certain day.

If it is not sold then it is lost for ever, Mr Hill said. “We cannot save it up and . sell it during ‘sale’ time at a reduced price.”