Christchurch Airport

Press, Volume XCIX, Issue 29262, 21 July 1960, Page 3

Christchurch Airport

Sir, —Is the Christchurch Airport for the use of travellers or is it a social centre for the general public? On Sunday last I j went out to the airport to fare- | well some people leaving ChristI church. The intending passen- ! gers and their friends had to i stand because all the seats were ' occupied by people who were there to spend the afternoon. As to getting a cup of tea, well, this was possible if people joined the queues of happy holidaymakers who look upon the airport as some kind of a holiday camp. The , time has arrived when the auth- ; orities should charge a 2s admis- ! sion fee to everybody except those having a real reason for • being there. This would enable the airport to be used for the purpose for which it was designed.—Yours, etc, CITIZEN. June 28, 1960. [The airport manager (Mr A. I. R. Jamieson) replies: “It would be difficult to curb the airmindedness of the Christchurch public or their pride in the airport. The overcrowding of the terminal building on some Sunday afternoons, however, is a problem, and it is agreed there could be some inconvenience to passengers on these occasions. Steps are being taken to ease these conditions. The advent of the new ‘paid parking’ lot this year and the greater utilisation of the roof deck will assist greatly.”]