N.A.C. changes ’minimal’

Press, Volume CXVI, Issue 34138, 27 April 1976, Page 13

N.A.C. changes ’minimal’

fy 7. Press Association/ . WELLINGTON. The chief executive' and general manager of' the National Airways Corporation (Mr D. A. Patterson) has denied that the airline is abdicating its responsibility to provincial areas. In a statement he said that r»cent press, radio and' television reports had talked ct small airlines "vying to i take over N.A.C.’s ailing! provincial services.” Mr Patterson emphasised I that the changes the airline wished to make on its route! structure were minimal. “N A C. is applying to the Air Services Licensing Authority to remove only four return sectors out of its 136 provincial sectors flown on an average week day. The application will be heard in Rotorua on May 18. These are the HamiltonGisborne sector over which only eight people have been travelling daily, the Ham-; ilton-Wanganui sector overi which traffic has been only six passengers per day, th’e| Gisborne-Whakatane sector!

I which 1.4 people have used daily, and the WhakataneTauranga sector which 0.32 people have used daily. . “Any other changes in the provincial flights being made in the June 9 timetable are ■ merely a seasonal adiust- ■ ment in the daily frequency ias have been done every I year in periods of low demand." Mr Patterson said 1 "For instance, some areas which have three services a day to the main centres will (have two services a day, with the third flight operiating on Mondays and FriIdays when the demand is always higher. This is a i I standard seasonal reduction |to match the lower winter sdemand. If there are other .week days during this period where a third flight is justified by demand then these ’ will be provided.” ; Mr Patterson added that iiN.A.C. supported the activi- . ties of the smaller airlines j but would oppose any applications to take over routes - on which N.A.C. itself coni tinued to provide services. i “This W'ould offer no im- • provement,” Mr Patterson •.'said. “The sharing of routes (would diminish the return to ! | the airlines and bring no (benefit to the communities.”