AIR COMBINE.

Ashburton Guardian, Volume 64, Issue 31, 16 November 1943, Page 4

AIR COMBINE.

AMERICAN POST-WAR PI«AN. WHAT THE “BIG THREE.” URGE. NEW YORK. Pan-American Airways, United Air.' lines, and American Export, the three big companies that stood aloof when the 16 other United States airlines presented their post-war plans, to-day explained their attitude. They wanted to see all America’s domestic airlines combining with PanAmerican to operate in the foreign field. They feel that global airlines after the war are going to be crowded with Government-dominated and Gov-ernment-owned companies of other countries, notably the British Empire, thus making it difficult for the highlycompetitive United States airlines to operate profitably.

They believe it would be in the United States’ interests if America had one strong system, operating in the entire field, or at least in specific zones, rather than have a number of American companies competing with each other and with strongly-subsi-dised British, Dutch, French and Swedish linos. Tlie 10 companies that issued a statement on their plans for “Freedom of the Air!’ put on record their opposition to monopoly, governmental or private, in the foreign field. The head of the United Airlines (Mr William, Patterson), discussing the joint statement, said his- reason for staying out was the refusal of the other companies to leave the door open for jointly owned and operated foreign routes if it should be found that the best interests of the country can be served by such co-operative efforts.

The “Big Three” think that an unlimited number of American companies operating all over the world will split the traffic, weaken themselves and be subject to increasing Government subsidy to keep alive. They look with favour on one strong line, presumably built around Pan-American. The Government attitude to this plan is not known, and one of the vital things that has yet to be decided is to what extent the American global airlines are to be associated with the State Department. It was made known that automatic air traffic control systems will he established in New York and Washington when war ends 1 . This plan will be discussed at the Civil Aeronautics Administration Convention in Chicago. There is no doubt that the airline companies here are planning ahead ambitiously. j Dr. Jaoqutu Salgado (Brazilian Air Minister), when,in New York, declared that planes of American design are being manufactured in Brazil *and are operating over the routes of former German and Italian lines.