BRITISH AND FOREIGN.

Auckland Star, Volume LXVI, Issue 112, 14 May 1935, Page 7

BRITISH AND FOREIGN.

AIR SERVICES COMPARED,

LONDON, May fi,

The worst that can be said against British civil aviation is that its policy of ileet replacement is late, writes Mr. G. E. Woods-Hiimphcry, managing director of Imperial Airways, Ltd., in an article in the periodical "Aeroplane." There is good reason, however, for the delay. The industry is waiting for the result of the British-Dominion discussions on the abolition of the air mail surcharge, which rivals in importance the introduction of penny postage.

Its introduction would not only provide improved postal facilities, but would mean that passengers would enjoy greater speed and comfort, and enable Imperial Airways to order larger, speedier and more economical aircraft.

Imperial Airways is not opposed to higher speeds, but cannot increase them regardless of cost. Comparisons with the United States are unfair, as the American taxpayer had subsidised aviation to the extent of £25,000,000 in eight years. Investors had lost £74,000,000 in unprofitable American aviation enterprises, and he adds, "but British conditions are different. No foreign air transport service is approaching financial independence more quickly than Imperial Airways, and none has such low operating costs.

"Foreign operators covet the Empire air mail's, and have ordered high-speed American "planes, in the hope of augmenting their own slender national traffic.

"Imperial Airways is confident of establishing a seven-day service to Australia if the Dominions adopt the British air proposals."