HOLIDAY PLANS DISRUPTED

Press, Volume CVI, Issue 31236, 7 December 1966, Page 1

HOLIDAY PLANS DISRUPTED

At least 200 Christchurch people are expected to be unable to spend Christmas in Australia unless the Qantas pilots’ strike is resolved fairly quickly.

Yesterday Air New Zealand in Christchurch announced that it would not be able to handle any further passengers booked on Qantas except in very small numbers and on an airport stand-by basis. “The picture looks pretty grim,” said a spokesman for the airline.

Until yesterday Air New Zealand reservation staff, which has been under considerable pressure with the extra business brought by the strike was able to clear most of the passengers booked on Qantas flights.

The spokesman said all Air New Zealand flights to Australia were completely booked

in Christmas week. Others in the holiday period were heavily booked and there were waiting lists for cancellations. “We will be unable to help passengers seeking to go to Australia for Christmas,” he said.

There is only a few hours delay in New Zealand air mail for Britain and Europe, according to advice received from the Australian Post Office by the Chief Post Office in Christchurch.

Mail for Hong Kong and Japan usually carried on Qantas flights was subject to delays of up to 24 hours, said the Chief Postmaster (Mr M. E. Wilson).