Milestones

Press, 3 February 1981, Page 22

Milestones

The World Tourism Or- ’ ganisation’s latest 'report shows r convincingly ‘ that the world’s', most peripatetic people are the Germans. A 31.1 per cents, increase in their ex-’ penditure on overseas travel in 1978 (the latest figures available) to $14.4 billion, was a staggering $6 billion ahead of the next nationality, the Americans. The United States earned die most in travel receipts of any country at $7 billion, with Italy next on $6.3 billion. Germans spent $9.6 billion more on travel outside their own country than they gained at home in travel receipts. $ >je &

Delta, one of the major airlines in the United States, has announced a profit of $93 million in the 12 months to June 1980, the third-highest profit in the company’s history. si* »1«

Pan American Airways yesterday introduced the first of its three scheduled flights a week between the United States and China. They will fly (via Tokyo) from New York to Peking, from San Francisco to Peking, and from San Francisco to Shanghai and Peking. The New York-Tokyo-Peking route (8059 miles) is one of the longest in the world. The air-

line will use Boeing 747 SP (special performance) aircraft. The flying time will be about 17 hours. s|s

Tourism has become South Africa’s fourth biggest export earner, after gold, minerals, and agricultural produce. In 1980 tourism in the Republic produced $450 million in foreign exchange. (New Zealand earned $213 million in foreign exchange from tourism for the year ending October 31.)

Mr C. W. Beresford (above) has retired as Air New Zealand’s general manager (Corporate Services). Mr Beresford, who joined T.E.A.L. in 1953, has been succeeded by Mr G. W. Matheson.

A'new escorted tour is on the market: Auckland to London in 33 days via Hong Kong, Japan, the Trans-Siberian Railway. Sweden, and Denmark. The cost is just under $3OOO on a share-twin basis. >x ❖ ❖

Mr David Brunton, a former journalist with “The Press,” has been appointed New Zealand manager of the Victorian Government Travel Authority. Mr Brunton, who will be based in Auckland, has lived in Victoria for the last 13 years. <;•

Swissair, Switzerland’s airline, is now providing free inflight entertainment for all first-class and economy-class passengers. The airline flies to 90 destinations in 60 countries. :(< :;s «

Qantas is to fly its new Boeing 747 SP aircraft from Auckland to Townsville in North Queensland once a week -from February 10.

Sir Freddie Laker, the controversial chief of Laker Airways, is still pressing the Hong Kong Air Transport Licensing Authority for permission to fly between London and Hong Kong. Laker’s application for a licence has been drawing vigorous opposition from other airlines on the route.

Mr lan Gay, who has taken over from Mr Peter Chown as Qantas’s regional director (South West Pacific) in Auckland. Mr Chown has returned to Sydney as the airline’s personnel resources director. Mr Gay was formerly manager of Qantas’s Malaysian operations 'in Kuala Lumpur. »i’ h’

British Airways and Air France are to cut European fares by about 20 per cent in the northern spring. The plan involves the abolition of first class, leaving only business class and tourist class at fares below the normal economy rate.