AIRLINE POLICY

Press, Volume CI, Issue 29778, 22 March 1962, Page 14

AIRLINE POLICY

“Catspaw Of Politics” ( N.Z. Press Association) WELLINGTON. March 21. So long as transport continued to be a catspaw of politics, with no concerted attempt at long-term planning. there was little hope for its future economic development, said Mr E. A. Gibson. a former Director of Civil Aviation and now an aeronautical consultant, to members of the New Zealand Road Federation.

Speaking on the userpayer principle as applied to aviation. Mr Gibeon said that in 1959-60 the proportion of self-paying passengers to those on expense accounts was 55 to 45 Today these figures had been reversed. Increasing costs of air travel were causing a falling-off in the numbers of self-paying passengers, though these were necessary if full economic use was to be made of air terminal facaliSee. On feeder lines, where most of the passengers were self-paying, traffic tended to be static, with only small increases. The 40 per cent, increase in air dues soon to be imposed would tend to squeeze out more of this type of passenger. The need was obvious for a stable policy that would provide for payment by the user of air transport up to the point where it did not cause a fall-off in passenger traffic. What was wanted was an organisation that C'Hild establish a plan and always be working 10 years ahead, he said.