BOAC de Havilland Comet 4

A BOAC de Havilland Comet 4C at the Imperial War Museum, Duxford. A similar aircraft was used for the twice-weekly jet service between London and New Zealand begun in 1963.

The jet age had a profound impact on how Kiwis travelled internationally. In 1960 35% of those departing for overseas left by sea; by 1969 the figure was less than 15%. The numbers leaving trebled between 1960 and 1969, when 100,000 left ‘temporarily’ for the bright lights of places like London. Likewise, the numbers coming here increased dramatically - over the course of the decade the numbers arriving increased four-fold to 100,000.