T.N.L. plans airline

Press, 2 June 1984, Page 1

T.N.L. plans airline

The T.N.L. Group of companies has applied to establish an airline, according to the managing director, Mr Garth Butler. Mr Butler said from Nelson last evening that the application had been lodged yesterday. It is the group’s first foray into aviation and was made, Mr Butler said, because of a change in the air licensing regulations. He said that he was unable to be more specific as to what sort of aircraft the group planned to use, or over what route, but this information would come out at the licence hearing some time in the next month. Les Bloxham, travel

editor of “The Press,” reports that the service is likely to fly between Auckland, Rotorua, Christchurch, Glentanner (Mount Cook), and Queenstown. It is believed that two De Havil-land-7 four-engine turboprop aircraft will be used. They have seating capacity for 50 passengers. If this route is approved, it will parallel services already followed by the Mount Cook Line. Glentanner is a private airfield about 15 kilometres from the Hermitage. The aircraft would not be able to land at the Mount Cook airfield, which is owned and run by the Mount Cook Company.