£8000 PROFIT ON STATE AIRWAYS

Press, Volume LXXXVII, Issue 26560, 24 October 1951, Page 6

£8000 PROFIT ON STATE AIRWAYS

Improvement After Heavy Losses

BIGGER PLANES, MORE TRAFFIC

(New Zealand Preet Association') WELLINGTON, October 23. The National Airways Corporation, after losing money heavily for two successive years, operated at a profit of £BOOO in the year ended Marph 31 last. This recovery has been caused by increased traffic and economy measures.

The annual report of the corporation will show that in the year 238,405 passengers were carried on scheduled routes—l 6.46 per cent, more than were carried in the previous year. Freight totals jumped much higher in the same period, 6,641,0311 b being carried on scheduled flights and 1,150,2781 b by charter—increases of 82.89 per cent, and 86.6 per cent.

Miles on schedule routes flown by corporation aircraft dropped bv .54 per cent, to 4,797253. Corporation services operated almost without interruption, 98.02 per cent of scheduled flights being completed, compared with 96 per cent, the previous year. The corporation carried more passengers and freight without having to fly any extra miles. The main reason for this has been the increased use of D.C3 airliners, which carry 24 passengers. and the gradual dropping of the Lodestars, which carry 15, and the Electras, which carry only 10. The corporation is able to operate the bigger airliners at much the same cost as the others, yet gain extra traffic, freight as well as passenger. Tne corporation has withdrawn on all routes the five Electras it had. and is cutting down the Lodestars, which should soon be out of service also.