Milestones.

Press, 11 July 1989, Page 22

Milestones.

Compiled by

Les Bloxham

Qantas will name its long-awaited new Boeing 747-400 jumbo jets the "Longreach” series. The chief executive, Mr John Menadue, said the name conveyed both the exceptional range of the aircraft and the Queensland town of Longreach which, with Winton, was the birthplace of Qantas in 1920. The name, to appear in gold lettering on the fuselage of each aircraft, was selected from suggestions submitted by staff. Qantas has 10 of the SNZ26O million aircraft on order. The first will be delivered on August 3, with another four scheduled to join the fleet by the end of the year.

Trans-Tasman air travellers are being offered Mount Cook Airline fares for half price. The offer is available with either New Zealand or Qantas promotional tickets across the Tasman, and applies to certain Mount Cook Airline sectors to and from the international gateway cities of Auckland, Christchurch and Wellington.

Continental Airlines is withdrawing its twiceweekly service between New Zealand and Los Angeles, via Papeete. The airline says it needs the aircraft for routes elsewhere in the world.

Queensland’s Gold Coast has captured a new market — 30,000 American armed forces personnel based in Guam. This follows the signing of a package agreement with Continental Airlines and the inbound tourism operator, Continental Air Micronesia Holidays. The Gold Coast Visitors’ and Convention Bureau anticipates that the local tourism industry will benefit by an additional SAustlO million annually in direct tourism spending from the Americans’ “R and R” leave. * » » The 'Thai resort of Phuket will become another on-line Qantas destination from November when the airline and Thai International will each buy 70 seats on a weekly Phuket - Sydney - Phuket service to be flown by the Astrian carrier, Lauda Air, owned by the former world grand prix motorracing champion, Niki Lauda. His airline recently received Australian Government approval to operate a second weekly 8767-300 ER service between Vienna and Sydney, via Phuket The present mid-week service is via Bangkok; * * * : ' A major marine park is planned for Hervey Bay to protect humpback whales during their annual migration along the Queensland coast The declaration of a marine park will enable rangers to regulate activities during the main whale-watch-

ing season, August to. October. * • » In the wake of China’s internal problems, the Sheraton Hua Ting Hotel in Shanghai has announced a “summer special" room rate of SUS 69 a night, available to September 15. Guests

paying that rate will be entitled to full use of the hotel’s heated swimming pool, health club, sauna and jacuzzi at no extra cost. “All four Sheratons in China — in Shanghai, Beijing, Tianjin, and Guilin — are operational,” said the hotel’s general manager, Mr Arthur Krieger.