Airline plans queried

Press, 26 July 1980, Page 6

Airline plans queried

The Canterbury Manufacturers’ Association has written to the chief executive of Air New Zealand expressing [concern that the airline’s new Boeing 747 aircraft may not use Christchurch airport except at peak seasons. A statement made by the general manager, (airline services), Mr G. W. Matheson, in June, appeared to suggest that once the airline’s DClOs were phased out Air New Zealand international flights would almost cease from Christchurch. The association’s council asked Mr Davis how such a policy could be justified when such a large section of New Zealand’s population had Christchurch as its nearest

international airport; most diplomatic and business travel was destined for Wellington; the main tourist and ski-ing attractions were in the South; with freight being channelled through Auckland the association could envisage the present congestion leading to longer delays; and that the policy would further affect

employment opportunities in . the Christchurch area, which already had 5.91 per cent of its workforce unemployed or on special work. Copies of the letter were sent to the Minister of Aviation (Mr McLachlan), the chairman of Air New Zealand (Mr C. W. Mace) and all South Island members of Parliament.