COAST AIR SERVICE TO BE IMPROVED: QUICKER FLIGHTS

Greymouth Evening Star, 15 October 1947, Page 6

COAST AIR SERVICE TO BE IMPROVED: QUICKER FLIGHTS

One defect in the present air ser- . vice between the West Coast and the North Island to which Greymouth residents have raised objections, will be eliminated early next month with the operation of a larger and faster machine between Westport and Wellington. Passengers from Greymouth and Hokitika after this month will change planes at Westport instead of at Nelson where a stop will be made to pick .up passengers only, and the flight will be direct to Wellington. On November 3, the service will be operated from -Westport by a 10seater Lockheed Electra plane, and, until the new airfield at Hokitika is completed, the present D. H. Dragon Rapide—a six-seater —will transport passengers between the southern terminus and Westport. The main benefit of the new service, as far as the Grey district is concerned, will be the practicability of Auckland passengers making the journey to Greymouth in the one day. At present airways passengers leaving Auckland for Greymouth, miss the first plane from Wellington for the West Coast, and after arriving at Hokitika by the second plane at about 6 o’clock, are unable to find organised transport to Greymouth until the following morning. .The new service will enable Auckland passengers to connect with' the first plane from Wellington, arriving at Hokitika shortly after 1 o’clock and at Greymouth the same afternoon.