VC10 Jets For New Zealand-U.K. Line

Press, Volume CI, Issue 29956, 18 October 1962, Page 16

VC10 Jets For New Zealand-U.K. Line

(New Zealand Press Association) AUCKLAND, October 17. The Comet airliner service to be inaugurated next year between London and Auckland by the British Overseas Airways Corporation will be superseded by the huge VCIO rear-engined jets when Mangere International Airport opens in 1965.

This was stated by Sir Basil Smallpeice, managing director of 8.0.A.C., on his arrival at Whenuapai today to complete arrangements for the start of the Comet service next April. 8.0.A.C. would almost certainly use the VClO’s on the London-Los Angeles service and had also offered to charter the aircraft to Tasman Empire Airways for its projected service to North America, said Sir Basil Small-ps-ioe. If T.E.A.L. re-equipped with the VCIO, it would fit in very well with the 8.0.A.C. utilisation.

He did not think the Pacific service would suffer from the same problems affecting the Atlantic, where revenue had fallen because of the big increase in aircraft and seating capacity Room For Airlines The Atlantic passenger traffic was still increasing, but the rise would be greater across the Pacific, said Sir Basil Smallpeice, and he considered there was room for other airlines.

Passengers flying the Atlantic had increased 12 per cent, this year, but revenue was up 6 per cent., which was not good enough.

It was unlikely that fares would become cheaper, particularly in view of the fact that most international airlines were operating at a loss. The most one could expect was that the fares would not be raised. Sir Basil Smallpeice said

8.0.A.C. had no plans at the moment for completing its round-the-world service by flying between Auckland and Los Angeles. The corporation had no rights to fly through Los Angeles. It already had a service through toe Far East and Honolulu. Mr F. A. Reeves, general manager for T.E.A.L., who returned by the same airliner, said it was likely that if his company chartered VClO’s from 8.0.A.C. they would be used for seasonal extra capacity and would be additional to new aircraft to be purchased by T.E.A.L. It would be logical for T.E.A.L. to re-equip with VClO’s if they were toe only aircraft in the area, said Mr Reeves. But T.E.A.L. operated in an area where there were also Boeing’s and DCB’s. Recommendations would need to be made to the Government by the first quarter of next year for replacement aircraft.