B.O.A.C. SERVICE TO S.I. “YEARS AWAY”

Press, Volume CVII, Issue 31499, 13 October 1967, Page 16

B.O.A.C. SERVICE TO S.I. “YEARS AWAY”

Although it appeared it would be years before the British Overseas Airways Corporation provided a service through Christchurch, the city was not being overlooked, said the retiring New Zealand manager of the airline (Mr L. F. Wood) in Christchurch yesterday.

The frequency of the airlines flights into New Zealand depended on traffic from Britain and Fiji. The fourth weekly service provided by the airline into New Zealand might come through Christchurch. Before the twice-weekly service was increased much more traffic would be needed. The airline would first make an economic survey. More tourists were coming into New Zealand and although hotel accommodation could be a limiting factor, there had been a considerable improvement in hotel accommodation.

Bar periodic economic setbacks the tremendous growth of airline business in recent years could be expected to continue. Since he arrived in New Zealand six years and a half ago, 8.0.A.C.’s business had quadrupled. From an original staff of seven the airline in New Zealand had increased to 38. New offices had been opened in Wellington and Christchurch. During Mr Wood’s managership, 8.0.A.C. brought the first pure jet aircraft into New . Zealand—the Comet This was followed by the Rolls Royce-powered Boeing 707 s and the opening of the South Pacific service in April. Mr Wood will retire at the end of the year after 22 years with the airline.

“I will go away as an enthusiastic ambassador for New Zealand. You have a wonderful country here,” he said. With Mr Wood was the new manager, Mr E. T. Smith, who will take over on December 31. Mr Smith was 8.0.A.C.’s pioneer salesman in New Zealand. He joined the airline in 1946 after service with the Royal Marines in the Second World War. He worked in Cairo and London before his appointment to the New Zealand staff in 1953.