H—3s

1949 NEW ZEALAND

Presented to Both Houses of the General Assembly Pursuant to Section 29 (3) of the New Zealand National Airways Act, 1945

The Hon. the Minister in Charge of the Air Department. Sir, — Pursuant to the provisions of section 29 (3) of the New Zealand National Airways Act, 1945, a report on the operations of the Corporation, together with a copy of the Balance-sheet and the report of the Auditor-General, is tendered to you herewith for presentation to Parliament. Steady progress has been maintained in the development of the Dominion network of air services. New passenger services were introduced during the year connecting Auckland, Hamilton, Rotorua, Palmerston North, and Wellington, and a freight air service connecting Auckland, Wellington, Christchurch, and Dunedin. Increased frequencies were provided on the main trunk Auckland- Wellington-Dunedin-Christchurch service, on the Dunedin-Invercargill, the Gisborne -Wellington, and the Auckland-Whangarei-Kaikohe-Kaitaia services. The total mileage flown for the year was 4,298,922 miles, representing an increase of 23-8 per cent, on the previous year. This increase in services and mileage has been made possible by the acquisition of additional aircraft, the Corporation's fleet now consisting of 37 aircraft: 7 Douglas D.C. 3, 11 Lockheed Lodestar, 3 Lockheed Electra, 6 D.H. Dominie, 1 D.H. Rapide, 3 Fox Moth, and 6 Douglas freighters. What has been accomplished in the past three years is indicated by the mileage flown and passenger-miles created by the Corporation's Dominion network. The mileage flown increased from 1,407,583 in 1946-47 to 3,116,124 in 1947-48 and to 4,298,922 miles in 1948-49. Passenger-miles created increased from 16,019,896 in 1946-47 to 40,681,963 in 1947-48 and to 55,690,283 in 1948-49. Thus in the past two years there has been an increase of 205-4 per cent, in aircraft revenue mileage flown and an increase of 287-6 percent, in the passenger-miles created. Of the total services scheduled throughout the year under review, 97-06 per cent. were flown. On the main trunk route the percentage was 98-2 per cent. The development has taken place under adverse conditions. The Corporation has had to convert military-type aircraft to civil standards, has had to establish major maintenance and overhaul bases, set up offices in the main centres, and obtain and train personnel for a rapidly expanding organization. At the same time it has fallen to the Corporation to take over from the Royal New Zealand Air Force the Pacific Regional service and with this the responsibility for establishing and maintaining facilities for transient passengers at the international airport at Nadi, Fiji.

NEW ZEALAND NATIONAL AIRWAYS CORPORATION (ANNUAL REPORT OF) FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31st MARCH, 1949