British charters for S.I.

Press, 24 October 1989, Page 7

British charters for S.I.

By DAVE WILSON South Island tourism, and Christchurch in particular, will benefit from six holiday charter flights from Britain, scheduled to begin late next month.

Britannia Airways is running 14 holiday charters, to New Zealand, with eight flights to Auckland and six to Christchurch.

The two-week stopover for passengers on the South Island charters will not only give visitors time to sample the traditional tourist sights but will also focus their attention on Christchurch and Canterbury. The chief executive of the

Christchurch International Airport Company, Mr George Bellew, said the package tours opened the South Island to a different visitor market. “In the past these people have taken package holidays to the Mediterranean, but the market is getting more mature and is now pushing out to more distant locations.” Britannia will use a Boeing 767 Extended Range aircraft, carrying 258 economy-class passengers. They will have a package holiday in their first week in New Zealand, and be .free to

determine their own holiday activities in the second week. The first of the Christchurch charters is due to arrive on November 29, with the others running until early next year. Mr Bellew said the British holidaymakers were paying £799 each return, including seven nights accommodation, for their New Zealand holiday,. The airport company, which has promoted Christchurch as the gateway to the South Island, was keen to see more charter flights such as the Britannia packages, Mr Bellew said.