N.A.C. Granted Some S.P.A.N.Z. Routes

Press, Volume CV, Issue 31003, 8 March 1966, Page 3

N.A.C. Granted Some S.P.A.N.Z. Routes

(New Zealand Press Association) WELLINGTON, March 7. The National Airways Corporation today successfully ' applied for new licences so it could incorporate the now-defunct i S.P.A.N.Z. services, “to the extent considered to be practical ! and necessary,” into its network.

The Air Services Licensing Authority, which granted the applications at a sitting in Wellington, was told that N.A.C. was taking over 90 per cent of the essential S.P.A.N.Z. structure.

The corporation will take over S.P.A.N.Z.’ AucklandRotorua - Taupo - MastertonWellington route on a daily basis with DC3 aircraft and will extend its existing Christchurch-Timaru run to incorporate Oamaru. The airline was also granted a licence amendment to increase the frequency of its flights among Palmerston North, Nelson and Christchurch to six return services a week from March 1, and seven return services a week from June 1. The Authority was told by the deputy general manager

of N.A.C. (Mr L. L. Ford) that the corporation had made no provision for continuing a direct flight between Hamilton and New Plymouth, as it considered the limited traffic did not warrant the provision of such a service. It was likewise considered, he said, that the New Ply-mouth-Nelson direct flight was not warranted as daily service was available via Wellington. Application was made, however, to reduce the corporation's fare from New Plymouth to Nelson from £7 Is to £6. Route Pattern Giving details of the route pattern covered by the application, Mr Ford said a new service by the corporation from Auckland to Rotorua, Taupo, Masterton, Wellington and return, provided flights for Taupo and Masterton similar to the service provided by S.P.A.N.Z. It also provided a direct service between Auckland and Rotorua, not previously provided by the corporation.

As far as Rotorua was concerned, this service was in addition to existing corporation services through Rotorua. Frequency of service was seven days a week, giving an improved frequency for Taupo and Masterton. Service to Oamaru was being provided by extending the Christchurch-Timaru service and leaving the aircraft overnight at Oamaru. Frequency of service was seven days a week. The operation of the aircraft to provide the service was being contracted out to Mount Cook Air Services, Ltd., as was done at present with the Christchurch-Timaru service. The corporation however, remained fully responsible for the service in accordance with the licence. Nelson-Christchurch Frequency on the NelsonChristchurch service was being increased to six days a week from March 1 and seven days a week from June 1. The chairman of the authority (Mr G. H. Lusk) said it was pertinent to note that the people of Masterton, Oamaru, and Timaru would now have seven instead of six return flights a week, and. although there was no direct service from New Plymouth to Nelson, those cities would have a service through Wellington at the same fare as charged by S.P.A.N.Z. on the direct route New PlymouthNelson. He said the Authority considered both the new licences and the licence amendment to be in the public interest, j