UNION AIRWAYS

Otago Daily Times, Issue 22779, 15 January 1936, Page 8

UNION AIRWAYS

INAUGURATION OF SERVICE OFFICIAL CEREMONIES TO-DAY A notable event in the history of aviation in New Zealand will take place tomorrow, when the trunk air service between Palmerston North and Dunedin, conducted by Union Airways, Ltd., will bo inaugurated. The official opening ceremony will take place at the Milson Aerodrome, Palmerston North, this afternoon, when the Postmaster-general (Mr F. Jones) will christen the company’s three new liners, after which one of the planes will fly to the North Taieri Aerodrome, where an appropriate function will be held.

At 11.30 to-morrow morning the plane will leave for the north oil its first regular passenger flight, and another liner will leave Milson at 8.30 a.m. for Dunedin. The service will be run to time table, if weather conditions permit, each day, stops being made at Christchurch and Blenheim. COOK STRAIT SERVICE WEATHER CAUSES MINOR INTERRUPTION. (Per United Press Association) WELLINGTON, January 14.

Despite stormy weather, the air service across Cook Strait was maintained to schedule yesterday and to-day, except that because of low cloud and poor visibility it was decided to-day not to take any risk over the hill country between Blenheim and Nelson. One flight between these places was, therefore, eliminated for the day, but the afternoon flight was made as usual from Wellington to Nelson, via Blenheim. Officials of the company emphasise that the machines would probably have been able to maintain their schedule by means of tlm blind flying instruments, but it was decided not to take any risk with the passengers. The interruption, though minor, will be eliminated with the installation of ground directionfinding stations, probably in April.