AIR SERVICE TO JERSEY

Press, Volume LXX, Issue 21355, 24 December 1934, Page 10

AIR SERVICE TO JERSEY

❖ RAPID DEVELOPMENTS SIX BIG MACHINES ON ORDER 'FROM CUR OWN CORRESPONDENT.) LONDON, November 15. Early in the year a fleet of eight twin-engined Dragon aeroplanes, which is at present engaged in working the well patronised service between London and Jersey, will be augmented by six D.H. 86 fourengined craft of the kind chosen for the mail service between Singapore and Australia. The new machines will be luxuriously furnished for the accommodation of 14 passengers. Their instrumental equipment will include radio and directional gyro apparatus. The rise of Jersey Airways is one of the minor romances of aviation. It started operations just before the end of 1933, flying one Dragon between Jersey and Southampton. Full loads on all the early trips encouraged Mr W. L. Thurgood to commission a second Dragon within the first month. In the spring the line was extended to London and Portsmouth. Traffic increased rapidly, and before the end of March the need for several more machines for the holiday traffic was apparent. By July eight Dragons were in service. They were worked to capacity all through the height of the summer holiday season. During August alone more than 4500 passengers crossed the Channel in the company's aircraft, and many hundreds were unable to secure accommodation. Traffic returns completed up to October 31 show that 13,530 passengers had flown, with their luggage, to or from Jersey in less than 11 months. Air-line traffic tends to fall off heavily in the winter, but even in November the average number of passengers travelling daily by Jersev Airways is being maintained at 39.