N.Z. AIR SERVICES

Hokitika Guardian, 17 October 1939, Page 2

N.Z. AIR SERVICES

NEW ARRANGEMENTS. (Per Press Association.—Copyright). WELLINGTON, October 10. The Defence Department has taken over all the aircraft owiud by Cook Strait Airways and Union Airways except the Unioil Airways Lockheed machines. This involves the suspension -at once of the Aiickland-Gis-borne service and the cancellation of one trip each way on the service between Wellington and Auckland. The 'Auckland-Gisborne service, which was opened last March and lias been maintained by Union Airways do Havilland 86 airliners, has ceased operations. The trip had been made tri-weekly aeroplanes leaving Auckland for Gisborne on Monday, Wednesday, and Friday, and returning on the following day in each case. The amendment in the AucklandWell ington service, maintained by the | Lockheed machines, became to-day ef- I

focf.iv(>. There will, he only one departure from Wellington to Auekliind each day, at noun, and there will aiso he only one trip daily from Auckland to Wellington, leaving Auckland at 8 a.in., and arriving at Wellington at 11 a.in. The, 8.40 a.m. trip from Wellington and the mid-day ■trip from Auckland have been cancelled. Although therm two trips have been suspended, the through service between Auckland and Dun-' j edin will be maintained, a Lockheed , leaving Wellington for Christchurch j and Dunedin at 11,*20 a.in. daily and j another leaving Dunedin for Christchurch and Wellington at 8.80 a.m. daily, as at present. The taking over of the aircraft by the Defence Department will also later involve the suspension of ihe Gisborne-Palmerston North air service operated by Union Airways and I a conniderahle modification of the service between Wellington. Blenheim, and Nelson, operated by Cook * Strait Airways. The Cook Strait sor- j vice time-table is unaffected for the. [ time being. It is limit rstood that the Dragon Rapides with which this ser- | vice is maintained will run as at pro- j sent until early in November. Ar- 1 rangements are being made to maintain a service across Cook Strait after * that date. | I The Palmerston Nortdi-Blenheim J j Christchurch service was the first of i j the Union Airwavs services to be I 1