EXTENDED AIR SERVICES OPERATING

Taupo Times, Volume 19, Issue 99, 23 December 1970, Page 7

EXTENDED AIR SERVICES OPERATING

Air traffic in and out of Taupo Airport was greatly increased this week with an extra Friendship flight daily and two companies starting extensive air taxi services with light aircraft. The extra NAC flight started on Tuesday and will continue through the busy holiday season until February 1. The Friendship leaves Wellington at 8.45 a.m. and arrives in Taupo at 10 a.m. It leaves for Tauranga 15 minutes later. The return flight leaves Taupo at 12.05 p.m. for the 75 minute flight to Wellington. * * * Additional passenger flights through Taupo airport began yesterday when Geyserland Airways introduced daily services to Hamilton, Auckland, Napier, Gisborne and intermediate towns. Return flights to Taupo are also being made. * * * Bookings for a daily air taxi service between Taupo and Auckland were steady, said the manager of the Taupo Flying School and Air Services Ltd, Mr P. Matich, yesterday. On Monday the company began operating the service with two single engine aircraft, a six-seater Cessna 185 and a four-seater Piper. "This is the forerunner of a twin-engine aircraft passenger service which we hope to establish in Taupo," said Mr Matich. Flying time in the present aircraft between Taupo and Auckland is one hour. Mr Matich said that while there was considerable interest in the Auckland service, his company was willing to provide an air taxi service to anywhere in New Zealand. "We are conscious of a public demand for swift communication and we are going to provide such a service," he said.