Transport Briefs
p. 89 · Read in the full issue
• Polynesian Airlines has hiked fares to offset an average rise of 86.3 per cent in fuel costs. New one-way fares are: Apia-Pago Pago SWSIS; Apia-Tonga, $47.20; Apia-Nadi, $54.
Excursion fares have been increased as follows: Apia-Pago Pago, $22 return; Apia-Tonga, $55 return. The recently introduced group fares between Apia and Pago Pago was increased to $l7 return. • Karlander has sold the Salamaua to a Singapore buyer. For some years she has been operating from Sydney to Lord Howe Island, Norfolk Island and New Caledonia. Karlander in tends to put another ship on this run.
As a stop-gap, the Pacific Navigation Ship, the Tauloto, carried cargo to those islands from Australian ports. • A new pleasure craft, which can also be used for general charter work and big game fishing, has been added to the fleet which operates from the Tradewinds Hotel, Suva. The craft, Sundowner, has a maximum speed of 27 knots and cruises at 20 knots with 12 people and a full complement of diving tanks and equipment. • A new shipping service from Sydney to Norfolk Island and New Caledonia was scheduled to leave Sydney on March 26. The service, on
a three-weekly basis, will be provided by the Port de France. Agents are Hetherington Kingsbury in Sydney and South Pacific Shipping Co (Norfolk Island) Ltd, on Norfolk Island. ® The New Guinea Australia Line-Conpac joint service has rationalised its Australia/Papua New Guinea schedules with the intro duction of a direct service from Melbourne to Port Moresby and Lae. The first trip, in the Tenos, was to be from Melbourne on March 20. The two lines also introduced another direct service—from Lae to Brisbane, with the Tenos. After call ing at Brisbane the Tenos will sail on to Melbourne. The first Lae- Brisbane service was scheduled to start loading at Lae on March 31. • The special air fare of $112.82 covering the Pacific triangle of Fiji, Tonga and Western Samoa, is now available for travellers on excursion fares from New Zealand and Aust ralia. The circle trip is offered by both Air Pacific and Polynesian Air lines. The circle trip offers economy class travel in either direction, but in one direction only from any point —Nadi, Apia, Nukualofa, Suva, Nadi. The fare is valid all the year round and requires no minimum stay period. The maximum stay period is one year.