Flight plans disrupted

Press, 5 July 1985, Page 5

Flight plans disrupted

Several hundred Air New Zealand passengers wanting to travel between Sydney and Christchurch airports had their travel plans disrupted yesterday as a result of the fire-fighters’ strike at Sydney Airport. All domestic and international aircraft movements through Sydney Airport have been halted by the strike, apart from Qantas flights, as that airline has special fire-fighting arrangements. Passengers bound for Christchurch on flight TE44 yesterday morning will now arrive in Christchurch this afternoon on a Qantas flight, Q 45, after the cancellation of the Air New Zealand flight. About 200 pas-

sengers were affected by the cancellation. The next incoming flight from Sydney to be affected by the strike will be TE42, due to arrive tomorrow evening. About 300 passengers left Christchurch Airport bound for Melbourne about 5 p.m. yesterday on flight TE4I, which was to have left Christchurch at 3.10 p.m. for Sydney. Passengers on the flight had the prospect of a 14-hour bus journey before reaching Sydney. The next flight from Christchurch to Sydney to be affected by the strike will be Air New Zealand’s flight TE43 at 12.05 p.m. tomorjfiw.