Tour flight off

Press, 22 July 1976, Page 1

Tour flight off

Threats by the Australian Transport Workers’ Union have forced Air New Zealand to withdraw its special DCIO flight of rugby supporters to South Africa on August 9. Attempts will be made to put the estimated 200 passengers on alternative flights, but an Auckland snokesman for Air New Zealand said last evening there was no guarantee that other scheduled services could accommodate them all. It is not known how manv of the DClO’s pas-

sengers were from Christchurch or the South Island. The airline’s chief executive (Mr M. R. Davis) said yesterday in a statement that its first priority was to safeguard its scheduled flights. These had been threatened bv the union if the airline tried in any way to subvert the ban on servicing the special flight at Perth. The ban has been organised by the union in protest at New Zealand’s alleged condonation of apartheid in sending the All Black team.

Mr Davis said the decision was made yesterday after “direct inquiries” of the Australian trade union. The airline sincerely regretted the flight’s withdrawal. Qantas and South African Airways ran regular services between Australia and South Africa. Refunds to persons for whom alternative arrangements could not be made would be in the hands of the tour operators at whose request the flight was made available, the spokesman said.