Norfolk Island’S

Air Service

QANTAS announced at Sydnu in mid-August that the No Zealand Government was undeE stood to have requested Tasms Empire Airways Ltd. to take ov\ the Norfolk Island-Auckland seE vices.

Qantas, which operates a fori nightly service from Sydney Norfolk, had in turn received a n quest from TEAL to operate tl; Norfolk-Auckland sector on charter basis with DC4 aircrai weekly. It had been intended start this service on September I but a slightly later date appears likely.

Norfolk Island will therefore hai a better air connection with boc Sydney and Auckland. The largi cargo capacity of the DC4 airers will be important to the Norfo fresh vegetable exporters.

Reasons given for NAC’s witd drawal were: The imposition landing charges; reduction of pai load due to more stringent s regulations and withdrawal of tl radio-range navigational facilitd by the Australian Civil Aviatii authorities.

Inquiries from Civil Aviatii authorities at Sydney shed a litl more light.

The landing charges mention! referred almost certainly Auckland and not to Norfolk, system of landing charges w recently established throughoj New Zealand.

Reduction of payload did ap;c at the Norfolk end, howev following the tightening of regulations by Australia, partly the result of complaints by 1 air pilots’ association.

The Civil Aviation authorities* Australia had been in consultatd with NAC in regard to the radb range facilities at Norfolk, andfc was incorrect to say that they M been withdrawn, the authorbi stated.