Rush To Complete Mangere

Press, Volume CIV, Issue 30916, 24 November 1965, Page 3

Rush To Complete Mangere

(N.Z. Press Association) AUCKLAND, Nov. 23. After five years of waiting, the new Auckland International Airport at Mangere will begin commercial operations tomorrow 7 .

But in spite of weeks of frantic activity, passengers and visitors will have to put up with some makeshift arrangements.

The covered walk for international passengers is not complete and the holding lounge has no roof or floor. Nor will internal passengers have the use of covered fingers: these are a long way from completion. Inside the interim terminal

building, airline officials promised “business as usual” tomorrow morning, but finishing work is far from complete. This was undoubtedly the busiest place around Auckland today as hundreds of workmen of all trades attempted to complete a week’s work in 24 hours.

While airline equipment was being installed, employees were being briefed on their new duties.

At the same time, others were preparing to close down their facilities at Whenuapai as the time for the last arrivals and departures approached.

Air New Zealand used a convey of trucks to move tractors, power units, luggage trolleys and motorised steps. All heavy engineering and other equipment has already been moved and only enough was left behind to deal with

the final Air New Zealand Sydney arrival at 6.45 p.m. and the last departure at 8.30 p.m. for Nandi. The National Airways Corporation today borrowed two R.N.Z.A.F. Bristol Freighters for a Whenuapai-Mangere shuttle service transporting maintenance equipment and furniture. The last N.A.C. airliner due in was a Viscount, piloted by Captain M. L. Pirie, the district senior pilot, who thus set a record of being the first into Whenuapai 25J years ago and the last to arrive tonight.

The N.A.C. Auckland manager, Mr I. H. Driscoll, said today the corporation had had every co-operation and assistance from the airport authority and a smooth change-over was expected. The air cargo building of 20,000 square feet, which was built in under 12 weeks, only

required some minor interior fittings. It will handle freight of all the overseas airlines and house Customs officials.