Polar Air Route From Copenhagen To Tokyo

Press, Volume XCIV, Issue 28155, 19 December 1956, Page 16

Polar Air Route From Copenhagen To Tokyo

(From a Reuter Correspondent)

COPENHAGEN. The Scandinavian Airways System, which two years ago pioneered the first commercial trans-Arctic air service between Europe and the west coast of the United States, will nfext February opeh a new route over the geographical North Pole itself. The new Polar route will be between Copenhagen and Tokyo and cut the time for the journey from Europe to Japan from about 50 hours’ flying time to about 30 hours. The distance will be about 7800 miles, or 2600 miles shorter than the existing route from Copenhagen by way of the Middle East, Pakistan, Siam, and Hong Kong or Manila.

Long-range Douglas DC-7C airliners recently purchased from the United States will be used on the new Tokyo service, and there will be only one intermediate stop, at Anchorage, in Alaska.

It is hoped that the inaugural flights can be so timed that aircraft from Tokyo and Copenhagen will pass each other over the North Pole at 11.30 G.M.T.. and probably on February 24. The initial service will be of two return flights a week. The DC-7C’s will be able to carry 38 tourist and 16 firstclass passengers. At one time it was hoped that Scandinavian Airways, the first Western airline to get nermission to make regular service flights to Moscow, might get permission from the Soviet authorities to fly from Scandinavia to Tokyo by way of Russia and Siberia. The distance by this route is only 5400 miles, which would have made it oossible to cut the existing flying time by half. For the time being, at least, this hope, however, has had to be abandoned. Although the flight to Tokyo will be made with only one landing, at Anchorage, a snecial chain of radio stations has had to be prepared over the roof of the world. Similar arrangements were made for the company’s existing Arctic route from Scandinavia. via Greenland and Canada to California, with stops at Soendre Stroemfjord in Greenland and Winnipeg in Canada. This time, Scandinavian Airways has had to negotiate with the Governments of Norway, Denmark. Canada, and the United States for the establishment of stations, where existing facilities were inadequate. The comoany has provided equipment and helped with its installation, although operation of most of the stations will be by Government agencies of the countries concerned.

All the radio stations are equipped with radio telephony communications between aircraft and ground, and will operate in direct support of the Pole route, providing weather information, position reports, and other information of importance to the aircraft en route. _

Scandinavian Airlines opened the Arctic route between Copenhagen and Los Angeles on November 15, 1954. In the first year, some 6000 passengers were carried, the figure rising to 14,000 in the last 12 months. It started as a twice-weekly service, but after 18 months the frequency was increased to daily flights, catering for both first class and tourist passengers. Scandinavians are confident that the new will, be just as successful and help to boost Scandinavian Airways against the competition of air lines in larger countries, as well as to maintain Copenhagen as one of the world’s most important air terminals.

Some 150,000,000 kroner (about £7,500,000 sterling) has been earmarked by the Danish Government to improve and enlarge the Kastrup airport here to meet the needs of the large jet airliners which will come into use in 1960.

Scandinavian Airways is also planning to build what will be Copenhagen’s tallest building, a 21-storey hotel, in the centre of the city, to accommodate the increased number of air travellers who, it is confidently expected, will pass through Copenhagen.