NEARLY 6000 AT AIRPORT

Press, Volume XCVIII, Issue 28921, 15 June 1959, Page 10

NEARLY 6000 AT AIRPORT

Public Inspect New Terminal

The new air terminal at Christchurch International Airport was inspected - by a crowd of nearly 6000 persons yesterday. The air terminal yesterday had its first official inspection since it was opened last week. The Minister of Civil Aviation (Mr Mathison) was shown through by the airport manager (Mr A. I. R. Jamieson).

Before boarding an aircraft for Wellington, the Minister said: “It is a most impressive building. I am very delighted with it and it should be most satisfactory for the development of aviation here.”

Many Sunday motorists made their way to the airport during the afternoon. In addition to the 1500 cars that entered the airport, there were cars parked along Memorial avenue from the airport to Russley road and double parked along Durey road. Large queues formed to enter the terminal during the afternoon and inside the building, persons were crowded six deep against the windows overlooking the tarmac. Restaurant Busy The new airport restaurant had a record day, and operating from its temporary premises, served 500 customers between 2 pm. and 4 p.m. So great was the throng around the terminal building during the afternoon that National Airways Corporation staff had difficulty getting regular passengers on their aircraft. When Mr Jamieson walked round the building about 6 p.m. he found no damage to furnishings and expressed pleasure that the abnormally large crowd had been so well behaved.

“Today has brought home the absolute necessity of having larger parking areas,” said Mr Jamieson.

From his impressions gained whilst walking among the crowd, Mr Jamieson said the average ratepayer seemed to show complete pride in the new building.