IRMA New Zealand On1 Last Tasman Flight

Northern Advocate, 19 December 1949, Page 7

IRMA New Zealand On 1 Last Tasman Flight

RMA New Leaic-nc, inacis. me last scheduled transtasman flight by Tasman class flyingboat when it flew from Sydney to Auckland today. The British Ministry ol Civil Aviation which has hired the Tasman class aircraft to TEAL for the last three years, has not yet issued instructions for their disposal and in the meantime they will remain at moorings on the Waitcmata Harbour.

After today TEAL services will uc maintained by the new Solent flyingboats.

The chartering oi aircraft will be discontinued except for special occasions such as the British Empire Games period, when trails ireatiy exceeds normal proportions

HEAVY CHRISTMAS; BOOKINGS TEAL report heavy Christmas bookings but, as extra services have been scheduled, accommodation is still available.

The normal ircquenej oi transtasman flights is now nine each way per week, providing accommodation foi a total of over 800 pasengers a week. This frequency will be maintained and increased as necessary.

On January 9 the present timetable will be revised and night flights from Sydney to Auckland will commence. On days when only one aircraft is operating, departures will be from 1 Sydney at midnight and from Auek- 1 land at mid-day. INTERNAL CONNECTIONS

When two aircraft are operating they will depart from Sydney at 10 30 pm. and midnight, and from AuckianG at 10.30 a.m and mid-day The new timetable is designed lo provide excellent connections with internal transport services at Sydney and Auckland.

Passengers arriving from Australia will be able to fly on to other New Zealand centres without ••cmaining overnight in Auckland.