Air Services Upset By Fog

Press, Volume CIV, Issue 30822, 6 August 1965, Page 1

Air Services Upset By Fog

Fog at Christchurch airport yesterday morning caused the cancellation of nine National Airways Corporation services five in and four outbound. The cancellations affected

flights between 7.30 a.m. and 11.15 a.m. The first plane out with passengers aboard was a Viscount to Wellington, which left at 9.43 a.m. It should have left at 7.30 a.m. Two other aircraft also took off during temporary breaks in the fog. The first aircraft which should have landed at 12.10 p.m. arrived at 1.6 p.m. Because of the cancellations outward bound passengers were accommodated on subsequent flights throughout the day. Passengers coming to Christchurch also had to travel on later flights, some of which were diverted. A Dunedin-to-Christchurch flight continued to Wellington, where the passengers had to be booked on later flights back to Christchurch. An aircraft from Wellington to Christchurch with about 35 persons aboard continued to Dunedin. The passengers returned to Christchurch by road transport. An N.A.C. spokesman said that it was fortunate that bookings were relatively light yesterday. Because of this the airline had been able to clear passengers on subsequent flights during the day.