ELECTION PLEDGE Name Change For T.E.A.L.

Press, Volume CIII, Issue 30636, 30 December 1964, Page 3

ELECTION PLEDGE Name Change For T.E.A.L.

(N.Z. Press Association) AUCKLAND, Dec. 29. The Government and the board of Tasman Empire Airways are considering changing the name of the airline to coincide with its expansion internationally with DCB’s late next year. The T.E.A.L. board’s next meeting in the third week in February is likely to decide the name it will recommend to the Government. In its election manifesto, the National Party pledged itself “to extend T.E.A.L.’s trans-Pacific services and to develop a new name for the

airline which would include the world ‘New Zealand’.” Although the names Air New Zealand International, Ltd-, and New Zealand International Airlines. Ltd., have been registered, it is believed that neither is favoured for the final choice. Airline officials consider that the name T.E.A.L., which is already fairly widely known as New Zealand’s international airline through services to Australia, Fiji, New Caledonia, and formerly Tahiti, should not be completely discarded. They believe a composite name, such as T.E.A.L.-New Zealand, would meet the requirements of the National Party’s pledge. The final decision on the new name must be made soon to enable painting and'public-

ity campaigns to be planned before the arrival of the first of the three DCBs from the United States in August. With the opening of Auckland’s international airport on November 24, T.E.AL.’s DCS services are expected to come into being in this order:— November 25—Trips between Auckland, Sydney and Christchurch. Electras will serve Wellington and Melbourne, but it is not known yet whether Brisbane will be served by DCB or Electra. About December B.—First flight to the United States through Nandi and Honolulu to Los Angeles. During February, 1966, to Singapore, via Sydney. April or May, 1966, direct service to Hong Kong, through Sydney, with a possible stop at Darwin.