Reduced Flying Schedule Across Tasman

Chronicle (Levin), 13 July 1949, Page 7

Reduced Flying Schedule Across Tasman

AUCKLAND, July 12. A delay in tne arrival in New Zeaiand of its new Solent aircraft, with the consequent neeessity for carrying out additional overhaul work on its present aircraft, has caused Tasman Lmpire Airways Ltd. to reduce its flying boat services between Netf Zeaiand and Australia from seven flights each way weekly to four. The reduced service will continue for about the next six weeks but it will be supplemented by tvvo flights a week by chartered iand planes. The company stated today that the new timetable will provide ample capaeity for passenger and eargo traflic at present offering. This has been • reduced by the industrial trouble in Australia aud by the seasonal decrease in the normal passenger flow. It was added that the first Solent aircraft is not now expeeted to arrive in New Zeaiand before the end of August. It is expeeted that the first three aircraft would be delivered in September and October and the fourth, a month later. The delay in delivfery is attributable niainly to testing difficuities experienced in the latter part of the English winter. This in turn has delayed the tropical tests. However, ihese are now taking place and the first aircraft left Belfast for Khartoum on Julv (i.

The company added that the Uhited Kingdom authorities will make sucli tests of the aircraft as will ensure that Lliey reaeh the highest standard of per L'ormauee and reliabilitv. Progress re[>orts reveal that the aircraft do in many respects exceed expectations but it has been pointed out tliat the testing now in progress cannot "be hurried.