Qantas Strike’s Effect On Air Mail

Press, Volume CVI, Issue 31230, 30 November 1966, Page 16

Qantas Strike’s Effect On Air Mail

The dispatch of overseas air mails from New Zealand to the United States, Norfolk Island and Australia has been seriously affected by the strike of the Qantas pilots and the Norfolk Island service has had to be cancelled. Mr M. E. Wilson .the Chief Postmaster, said yesterday that only four services weekly to the United States were available instead of seven. “Air services to Sydney are also affected, but it is still possible to dispatch daily from Auckland, daily except Saturday from Wellington, and twice weekly from Christchurch,” he said. “Onward dispatch of New Zealand mails from Sydney is being arranged to best advantage by using the services of other international airlines,” he said. Electra Replacement Because a Qantas Boeing 707 is not available for the Christchurch-Sydney service lon Thursday evening. Air New Zealand will use an Electra. Nonnally Qantas provides an aircraft for the Thursday flights to Sydney under charter to Air New Zealand, but

the strike has disrupted the charter.

To ensure that the interim Electra service could be run, Air New Zealand sought approval from its own pilots and the New Zealand Government.

On its return to Christchurch from Sydney on Friday morning, the Electra will fly to Auckland. In case the strike continues, Air New Zealand will also make the Electra available for the following Thursday service to Sydney.