Polynesian Airlines’ Plans Still In The Air

Little was definite about the first Polynesian Airlines flight to Auckland at the end of 1977. In fact, according to Mr Terence Betham, general manager of PAL, all that was definite were the date of the first flights and that a NZ Na tional Airways Corporation aircraft would be used.

Mr Betham said the first flight would leave Auckland on February 25, calling at Tonga and then flying on to Western Samoa. It would make a return flight the same day. Two days later Air New Zealand would make a similar flight.

Mr Betham described earlier reports that a holding company, comprising PAL and Air NZ, would run the operation as “not exactly cor rect”. It was not known if there would be a holding com pany. There were several alternatives. One was that the companies involved could hire the aircraft, a Boeing

737, direct from the NAC, do a flight, and then return the aircraft to the owners.

Another was that Air NZ would hire the aircraft from NAC and PAL would hire it from Air NZ, or the other way round, all of which seems a little complicated.

When asked if PAL pilots had a chance of flying the Boeing, Mr Ron Reynolds, secretary of PAL, said his board of directors was “very touchy” on that issue. Mr Reynolds would say no more lest he “rock the boat”.

Mr Betham said PAL would do its best to have its pilots trained to fly the Boeing 737. But the NZ attitude was believed to be that if PAL wanted its pilots to fly jet aircraft, it would have to get its own jet.

All in all it s'eems there are quite a few points to be cleared up before PAL gets on to a longer haul service.