Capital to keep DC8s

Press, 18 December 1976, Page 1

Capital to keep DC8s

From

LES BLOXHAM,

travel editor

Although fewer people are now using Rongotai (Wellington) as an international airport than three years ago, Air New Zealand will continue to fly DCBs there “for as long as it is viable to do so.”

This was confirmed by the airline’s general manager and chief executive (Mr M. R. Davis) when he was asked yesterday how long Air New Zealand would be prepared to retain DCBs solely to preserve Rongotai’s status as an international airport. Although the number of Tasman passengers into and out of Christchurch and Auckland has increased over the last three years, the figures for Wellington surprisingly showed a steady decline — from 156,000 in 1974 to 142,000 last year. The figure to date this year is only 129,000.

Christchurch departures and arrivals have risen on the other hand from

219,000 in 1974 to 245,000 last year. The number so far this year is 248,000, Auckland's Tasman arrivals and departures have risen to exceed 470,000. Air New Zealand has just sold another of its ageing DCBs, but will keep the remaining three to ensure that Wellington will not lose its limited links with Australia and the Pacific Islands.

Rongotai’s runway is too short for the bigger and more efficient DClOs or Qantas’s Boeing 747 s or 7075. To lengthen the runway would cost at least S2OM. Mr Davis said the DCBs would continue in service until the early 1980 s or “for as long as it is viable to do so.” However, he emphasised that the DCBs would also be used for some flights to Nandi, Pago Pago, and Rarotonga. These airports can accommodate the “big 10s”--only Wellington is too small.