T.E.A.L FLIGHTS FROM CITY

Press, Volume CII, Issue 30264, 17 October 1963, Page 23

T.E.A.L FLIGHTS FROM CITY

Cr. Guthrey Replies To Minister

Two statements by the M .raster of Civil Aviation iMr McAlpine) to a deputation on Monday had been misleading, Cr. A- R. Guthrey. chairman of the City Cuncil’s airport committee, sa.d on Tuesday. It was true that an Electra of Tasman Empire Airways, Ltd. had flown empty from Christohundh recently. Cr. Guthrey said. It should be explained that Qantas had flown a special flight wTh about 40 passengers to Christchurch. On the day the Qantas plane was due ■to return empty a T.E.A.L. a rcraft in Australia was delayed by engine trouble. To avoid a delay for passengers at Christchurch it was a greed to send them on the Qantas plane. When the T.E.A.L. plane eventually arrived its passengers had gone. It flew back to Sydney empty to maintain its timetable. The Ministeir’s comments on load factors out of Qhrist- < lurch were also astray, said Cr. Guthrey. He had said the load factor was only 47 per cent, but T EAL.’s records showed the average for the year was 701 per cent. Even in August, one of the lowest months for loading, the load factor was 62 per cent. For the three months of winter it would be about 60.