Newmans Airlines planned for tourism

Press, 12 June 1984, Page 32

Newmans Airlines planned for tourism

PA Nelson TNL Group, Ltd, yesterday set out details of an airline it wants to form to fly winter and summer services on the major tourist routes linking Auckland, Queenstown, Rotorua, Christchurch and Glentanner Station near Mt Cook. TNL proposes to operate the service, to be called Newmans Airlines, using two De Havilland-7 series 102 aircraft. They are similar in size to friendships, but have four engines and a seating capacity of 50, which would be sufficient to accommodate a busload of tourists. An advertisement in

newspapers yesterday was for TNL’s application to operate a category “A” service (the highest for any commercial airline) with winter and summer timetables. If granted, the new airline will fly Auckland-to-Queenstown, with a return route via Glentanner Station, Christchurch and Rotorua. A second winter service would originate in Christchurch and fly to Rotorua and Auckland, then return. As well it would fly from Christchurch to Glentanner, Queenstown and return. The summer service would link Auckland, Rotorua, and Christchurch.

TNL’s managing director, Mr Garth Butler, said yesterday the company would “know where it stood in about five weeks.” Until then, he preferred not to comment on the value and location of the aircraft or where the aircrew and staff would be recruited. He would also not say when the airline would start operations if the licence was granted. “This is our first case before the Air Services Licensing Authority and the first for a category “A” licence under the deregulated procedure. “It’s a bit early to comment more at this stage,” he said.