Busiest airport day

Press, Volume CXIV, Issue 33450, 4 February 1974, Page 2

Busiest airport day

Christchurch Airport had its busiest day yesterday, when Commonwealth Games teams and visitors left; but everything went smoothly during the day, mainly as a result of the co-operation of the public. Airport and airline officials had been worried about congestion in the terminal. However, the public accepted the direction of the police and airport security staff, and the advice given on notices to leave the terminal to travellers, and there was a surprising ease of movement in the main concourse most of the day. National Airways had . 100 domestic flights, carry- | ing 4000 passengers, and there were 13 international flights. Although everything appeared to go smoothly in front of the ticketing counters, the situation was hectic behind them. Extra airline staff worked long hours to cope with the passengers and their problems, but, apart from a cancelled Boeing 737 flight to Wellington, services were well up to time until 6 p.m., when the schedule was disrupted by the closing of Wellington Airport.

The two Royal departures did not upset the arrival and departure of scheduled aircraft. The only difference they made was that there were larger crowds along the terminal roof and viewing decks. Hundreds of cars were parked around the perimeter of the airport to see the many aircraft, which flew in and out about every seven minutes. Among the international aircraft were an Air New Zealand DCIO, under charter to National Airways, a Qantas 747, and an East African Airways VCIO which took the Ugandan

and Kenyan teams. A British Airways 747 touched down during the evening to take aboard the British Games team and officials. The airport general manager (Mr A. I. R. Jamieson) said the success of the day had been achieved by the wonderful co-opera-tion of the public, without whose assistance the terminal would have been overloaded. There were no security problems, and perhaps the arrangements had worked well because of the “rehearsals” during the ' lead-in to the Games, he said.