Air N.Z. airbridges ‘grounded’
By
LES BLOXHAM,
Air New Zealand’s airbridges at Christchurch Airport cannot be used in high winds. At the peak of Tuesday’s storm when the southerly gale lashed the airport with gusts of 75 knots, passengers had to make their way between the terminal and their aircraft in the open. At the same time, Ansett New Zealand’s passengers
were able to board their flights snug and dry. Ansett’s airbridges are a different design to Air New Zealand’s. They are bolted to the tarmac whereas Air New Zealand’s are telescopic and manoeuvrable to allow for a number of different parking positions for aircraft. But when the winds exceed 60 knots, they apparently become unstable and cannot be used. Although the airline
taxied its aircraft as close as possible to the terminal on Tuesday evening, passengers were still exposed briefly to the elements. A spokesman for Air New Zealand said the airline did not regret installing that particular type of airbridge. He said they allowed for greater flexibility in positioning aircraft, required fewer ground staff, and enabled faster turnarounds.
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Press, 26 January 1988, Page 27
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180Air N.Z. airbridges ‘grounded’ Press, 26 January 1988, Page 27
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