Airports Closed

Press, Volume CIV, Issue 30830, 16 August 1965, Page 1

Airports Closed

Bad weather in New Zealand and Australia yesterday upset the schedule of Air New Zealand and the National Airways Corporation.

The aircraft from Sydney arrived at the Christchurch airport an schedule last evening, but was held overnight instead of returning to Sydney, and will now leave at 9.30 a.m. today. Wellington airport was closed, Auckland likely to close, and alternative airports in Australia were also closed. Melbourne airport was closed and the airliner due in Christchurch from there did not arrive. Passengers for Melbourne will now fly with Auckland passengers this morning. The plane will arrive in Christchurch from Auckland with 35 passengers at 8.10 a.m. and pick up Christchurch passengers before leaving at 9 a.m. Passengers who should have arrived from Melbourne last evening will now arrive in Christchurch at 7.5 p.m. today, and the aircraft will then go on to Auckland.

Bad weather in other parts of New Zealand disrupted National Airways Corporation flights in and out of Christchurch Airport yesterday. Last evening the situation worsened when Christchurch Airport was closed for landings about 8 p.m. Aircraft Diverted

When this happened three aircraft were overhead waiting for clearance to land. Two Friendships, from Dunedin

and Wellington, and a DC3 from Dunedin had to be diverted to Paraparaumu, for by this time the forecast for Dunedin was such that a return to that airfield was not ■advisable. The stranded passengers were accommodated overnight by the corporation, and if conditions allow will be taken to their destinations this morning. MoSf of the North Island airfields had marginal conditions during the early part of yesterday, and Wellington was closed to landings at 1 p.m. Aircraft were then diverted to Paraparaumu and Palmerston North, with consequent upsets to other services. The' situation became progressively worse throughout the rest of the day, further delays being caused by each diversion.

Last evening two Welling-ton-bound flights and one Auckland-bound flight from Christchurch were unable to leave Harewood because there were no aircraft available. The passengers were rebooked on today’s flights. Late last evening the weather forecast for today was not particularly good, but several positioning flights into Christchurch were planned so normal flying could resume as soon as possible.