Up Shortcomings
p. 135 · Read in the full issue
Eavy Rain Shows
Of Apia's Airport
The inadequacies of Western noa’s Faleolo airport, which Iynesian Airlines have pointed out some time, were spotlighted in i-February, when, after a period heavy rain, the airstrip was oded and the airport was closed three days.
HIS upset several organised tour parties and with air services to ia suspended, congestion at the ?o Pago Intercontinental Hotel s so great that guests were re tedly sleeping on the floor, fhe managing director of Poly lian Airlines, Mr. E. F. Paul, said t the deteriorating state of the ding field was noted last Sep iber by the Director of Civil iation and Financial Secretary, . P. Heller. He then wrote to bhc Works requesting that im ivements be made. ‘Why the field hasn’t been patched before is beyond my understand ,” Mr. Paul said. ‘lt is evident that there is still no 1 appreciation in government of importance of tourists coming 3 the country.
Plan for bigger plane
‘The minute the airport is up ded, Polynesian is prepared to ng in a DC4 or a DC6.”
Vleanwhile, Polynesian is re tedly in the happy state of having ir major airlines courting it for :hance to buy in. fop executives of Pan Am, Con sntal and Air New Zealand have ently been in Apia for talks with [ynesian directors, and Eastern is □ reported to be interested.
Public Works has plans for up iding the airport this year by first ing a scoria surface, which would dw DC4’s to land, and then by iening the strip.
Fhe upgrading costs are estimated £llO,OOO.
Footnote: At the end of February, leolo was closed for night flights ile the PWD repaired and up ided the landing field. This iously upset Polynesian’s schedules, ic service that had to be rearranged s that to Nadi. Sunday morning ;hts to Tafuna (Pago Pago) to meet with Air New Zealand had be cancelled.