SPEEDING UP AIR MAILS

Press, Volume LXXI, Issue 21470, 11 May 1935, Page 13

SPEEDING UP AIR MAILS

AUTHORITY SPEAKS I DECISION OF DOMINIONS AWAITED LONDON, May 1. The worst that a n be said against British, civil aviation is that its policy of fleet replacement is late, writes Mr G. E. Wttods-Humphery, managing director of Imperial Airways, Ltd., in an an tide in the | "Aeroplane." | There is good reascw however, for the delay. The; industry is waiting for the result of toe BritishDominion discussions: on ihe abolition of the air mail surcharge. 'lts introduction would wot only provide improved postal jSpcilities, but would mean that passengers would enjoy greater speed anti 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 axtent of £25,000,000 in eight yeaiff£. Investors had lost £74,000,000 in unprofitable American aviation enterprises, and ratepayers had spent £18,000,000 on municipal airports. "I admire American air transport," he adds, "but. British conditions are different. No foreign air transport service is approaching financial in- • dependence more quickly than Imperial Airways, and none has such, low operating costs. "Foreign operators covet the Empire air mails, and have ordered high-speed American aeroplanes,'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."