“Jet Services Essential For N.Z. Tourist Trade”

Press, Volume XCVIII, Issue 28897, 18 May 1959, Page 7

“Jet Services Essential For N.Z. Tourist Trade”

There was no question of sacrificing Tasman Empn-e Airways if overseas airlines were permitted to fly through New Zealand, Cr. A. R Guthrev chairman of the Christchurch City Council airport committee, said last evening, replying to a statement made in elhngton on Friday by the Minister of Civil Aviation (Mr Mathison).

Mr Mathison said the Government had no intention of sacrificing TX.A.L. and “no surge of pressure from anywhere” would change that policy. Cr. Guthrey said last evening that T-E.A.L. would “always have | sufficient passenger traffic on the I Tasman route, the ‘Coral’ route and the other island services.” Bringing Pan American airI ways through New Zealand, under charter to T.E.A.L... would bring a larger number of people here and would step up this country's tourist potential, he said. “Pan American suggested they might be allowed to fly a oncea- week service and I doubt if they would want a higher fresuency.” He said air travellers invariably wanted to take a plane fitting in with their schedule. If they stayed more than a week, or less than a week, they would fly on by the T.E.A.L. service. “Once American tourists arrived in this country, they would find the T.E.A.L. service good and adequate." said Cr. Guthrey. Describing the issue as “not a parochial matter." Cr. Guthrey said Canadian Pacific and Pan American were prepared to use Christchurch Airport immediately because of the facilities it offered "There is no doubt that when Auckland has -its own international airport that we shall losea portion of our then existing services, but we would have every chance of reeaining some of them “If we wait for Auckland to be ready New Zealand will lose

the opportunity of becoming one of the main links in the Pacific air route. Because we are divided into two main islands there is a very good case for two international airports.” ■ AU the major airlines were flyNorth h A Pa ® ific air routes from North America by way of Hawaii and Fiji f 0 Australia, then up to Singapore, Hong Kong, and Japan, and back by way of Hawaii to America. The airn,nas were Prepared to inelude New Zealand on this ciremt but the Government had refused permission.” giving the reason that aircraft already flying Zealand were not being used to capacity, he said. ; “ Thls if. ’because New Zealand rv n a bbnd feeder service from ri.u. Pan American Airways f ave . T to off-load their passengers , N r V Zea,and a t Fiji on 8 to obsolete, unpressurised DC4 aircraft. This has no appeal to Americans who are flying straight on to Australia.” 8 - Cr ’ 9 u ‘ hre y said that pure jet aircraft flying through New Zealand would put this country permanently on the main Pacific air circuit and would create additional demands for T.E A L senvices.