BRITISH AIRLINE ROUND THE WORLD.

Auckland Star, Volume LXX, Issue 22, 27 January 1939, Page 7

BRITISH AIRLINE ROUND THE WORLD.

EXTENDING ROUTE. Opening Date of Tasman Service Uncertain. CO-OPERATION WITH U.S.A. United Fress Association.—Copyright. (Received 1 p.m.) LONDON, January 26. Mr. Hudson Fysh, an official of Imperial Airways, said that while the first now 24-ton flying boats destined i'or the Tasman service are about to be launched at Rochester, and an additional two will be launched within a month, it did not necessarily niean "we will be able to fly them to Australia and begin the Tasman .service immediately. "The date of the opening of the service depends on the provision of adequate bases and the requisite radio services and navigational aids. "Also, agreement is necessary as to which company will operate the new service." He added the Pacific was becoming increasingly important, both from a civil and military point of view. England and America were fully alive to the possibilities of co-operation, and according to reports from the United States there would be further aviation activities shortly in many north and south Pacific islands. "We are surveying the possibilities of an extension of the London-Auckland route to Fiji, and ultimately to San Francisco, joining the trans-Canadian service and completing the British airlines across the world. This would afford Australia and New Zealand alternative routes to London."