Airline to fly to Christchurch

Press, 31 January 1983, Page 4

Airline to fly to Christchurch

PA Wellington The Paraparaumu-based airline, Associated Aviation, will fly passengers to Nelson and Christchurch. . i?

The Air Services Licensing Authority has decided to allow the airline to fly a minimum of two scheduled flights a week to Nelson, and one a week to Christchurch.

There were no objections to the service, and Associated Aviation’s manager, Mr Harry Jenkins, said that on the contrary, a fellow thirdlevel operator, James Air, would provide booking facilities in Nelson. The Nelson service is expected to start in about two weeks, offering return flights on Mondays and Fridays. The weekly service to Christchurch is hoped to start in about five weeks. Initially, it will handle mainly freight, making early morning flights.

Both services are open to increases in flight regularity depending on public demand, said Mr Jenkins.

He said the flights would serve people from the Kapiti Coast to as far as Palmerston North.

“It would save travelling that extra 30 miles or so to Wellington Airport," he said.

A Cessna 402, which is being used on a five-day a week service to Auckland, will be used on the Christchurch flight. A Piper Aztec will make the flight to Nelson.

One-way fares of $45 to Nelson, and $75 to Christchurch have been applied for. Air New Zealand

charges $7B one-way between Christchurch and Wellington, and $57 between Wellington and Nelson. Mr Jenkins said that at this stage there were no plans for a connecting flight from Nelson to Christchurch.