Possible Changes To Overseas Air Fares

Press, Volume CII, Issue 30082, 16 March 1963, Page 13

Possible Changes To Overseas Air Fares

Although Tasman Empire Airways, Ltd., is reported to be seeking Government approval for major changes in its Tasman fares, the Minister of Civil Aviation (Mr McAlpine) said last evening that he had not been approached about any change. He said he felt any change would be by agreement between the operators on the route. The changes reported to be proposed by T.E-A.L include concessions on round trips, cut rates for family travel, and chargee for transport between airport and city terminals. T.E.A.L’s family plan, which is expected to be adopted by Qantas and 8.0.A.C., would be restricted to the Tasman link. It calls for the head of a family to pay the full fare, the wife 50 per cent, persons between 12 and 26 years 50 per cent, and children between two and 12 years 35 per cent Infants would still be carried free. Family travel would be restricted to Tuesdays, Wednesdays. and Thursdays. The concession would be valid for 17 days from the beginning of travel, and the family would travel as a group on the first leg of the journey. On the

return flight tt»e tamlly would bo allowed to travel separately, and the head of the family, paying foil fare, would be allowed to travel on any dayIn accordance with recommendations made by the International Air Travel Association at its conference In Arizona last October, all airlines are reported to be planning to reduce the rebate on round trips from 10 per cent to 5 per cent Bos Charges

Air passengers travelling on international airline flights in and out of New Zealand will, from April 1. pay for transport between airport and city terminals. This is said in a statement issued jointly yesterday by the British Oversees Airways Corporation, Canadian Pacific Airways. Pan American Airways, Qantas. TE.A.L, and Transport Ariens Intercontinenteaux. Overseas travellers, says tiie statement will be familiar with this practice overadAs. Now New Zealand will step into line with a ground tresisport charge of 8s » passenger In Auckland and 4s in Wellington and Christchurch. Children will travel at he«fare and infants under fo-o will travel free. These faces are considered comparable with airline coach fares overseas, and are in fact cheaper than most. The general manager of tile National Airways Corporation (Mr D. A. Patterson) has coafirmed that ground transpdjt charges are not contemplated by the corporation, nor is it contemplating family fares.