AIR SERVICE TO FIJI

Press, Volume LXXXII, Issue 24895, 7 June 1946, Page 5

AIR SERVICE TO FIJI

WEEKLY FLIGHTS BX ‘ R.N.Z.A.F.

i, AUCKLAND, June 6. .A weekly New Zealand-Fiji air ser»x?/^ a l i 2 au s urated to-day when a Sunderland flying-boat, carrying 22 passengers flew from AuckL a j n ?L to Lauthala Bay. The weekly flight will take a little over eight hours, compared with a three and a half days’ trip by sea. . The Air Force has had many inquiries from intending passengers, and the weekly flights show signs of being well patronised. The Sunderland which initiated the service to-day was the Tokomaru. the first of four R.N.Z.A.F. Sunderlands to be converted for peacetime use. Comfortably fitted and carpeted, the flying-boats will carry 24 passengers, in addition to a crew of eight. The aircraft have not yet been fitted with cooking appliances, but food is prepared beforehand and kept hot in special containers. Passengers do not go hungry during the flight, being served with breakfast soon after taking off, morning tea. lunch, and afternoon tea. Hot toheroa soup. stew, salad, jelly, and ice cream are typical items on the flight steward’s menu. The Sunderland service will leave Auckland everv Thursday at 7 a.m., reaching Lauthalq Bay. Fiji, at 3.15 n.m. The return flight leaves Lauthala Bay each Friday at 7 a.m.. and is scheduled to arrive at Mechanics’ Bay at 3.15 p.m. On the first flight the Tokomaru wiH stay a day in Fiji, and will return to New Zealand on Saturday.