New air link welcomed

Press, 15 July 1980, Page 21

New air link welcomed

NZPA Washington New Zealand trade officials in Los Angeles have welcomed news that Air New Zealand will start a weekly cargo service between Auckland and the west coast oi North Amciica next month. A DCB-63 leased from the Flying Tiger line will provide the first direct cargo flight between Los Angeles and Auckland (Pan American’s present freighter service goes through Australia). It wul also be Air New Zealand s

first full international regular all-freight service. The aircraft, capable of carrying -10 tonnes of freight, will leave Los Anceies every Saturday night, arriving at Auckland on Monday morning, li will leave on the return trip at 5.15 p.m. (N.Z. time) each Monday. The Assistant New Zealand Trade Commissioner in Los Angeles (Ms Robyn Davidson) said the service should certainly jeop in the critical months between December and Feb-

ruary when heavy softfruit shipments from New Zealand put pressure on cargo space because they coincided with the heaviest passenger traffic.

The new service should also help New Zealand exporters with their growing trade in fresh fish for the North. American Market.

"It will prove very valuable if exporters can eo-ordinte their marketing to catch the Mondaynight flight. ’’ Ms Davidson said.