AIR TRAVEL "DELUXE"

Dominion, Volume 13, Issue 71, 17 December 1919, Page 8

AIR TRAVEL "DELUXE"

LUNCHEON BASKETS AND SEASON TICKETS.

It is just little over a month smoa regular air travel services were, inaugurated, writes "The Times" of October 15. The success which,lias attended the venture has entirely justified the enterpnsa shown bv those firms with whom-resta tho credit of having foreseen a commercial future for aviation. Cross-Channel passenger and goods services by aeroplanes are now regular and almost commonplace, and their time-keeping "ro« cord" is one that might be envied by some railway companies. Tho railway sloppago had tho effect of giving a fillip to commercial aviation. It was, indeed, found to ba impossible to book all tho people who desired to travel to the Continent by air, and the booking agents at tho Travel Bureau at Piccadilly Circus turned away prospective passengers at. the rate of 20 a dty. Seventy-eight passengers were carried in. foul 1 days. At present tho air transport facilities are confined to tho London-Paris and London-Brussels services of tho Airco and Baiidlv Vage Companies, tho services of the Messageries Aeriennes Company, which fly in conjunction with the Hand'' ley-Page services, and the' now route opened by the British Aerial Transport Company between London and Amsterdam. Tho last-mentioned is a weekly service. Another service to Amsterdam is in contemplation, and it is hoped that it will be inaugurated at an early data with daily flights, asjn the case of the London-Paris services. It is interesting to note that the companies have already got the nucleus of a| regular clientele, and the question of providing something,in the nature of season tickets has been suggested. Con. sideration is being given to the matter, and it is not improbable that in the neat future a reduction may bo allowed to passengers who intend to make, eay, a dozen flights. _ Tho provision of lunciicon baskets for passengers is the latest innovation, and one which will bo appreciated. Tho Hand, ley Page Transport Limited has just introduced this novel feature. Tho luncheon: "iwsket" is reallv a dainty carton, in which are carefully packed at sandwiches and fruit and chocolate. Ihe cost, of the basket is 35.. and in inter that passengers may not be disappointed they arc asked to give their orders in advance. Tho company are providing wicker holder* for the bottles and [-lasses, and these will be affixed to tho walls of the cabin. The Youngest Passenger. Last week one nf the Handler Pace aeroplanes carried the youngest passenger siiico the service starlfd. Aceompvnyintr his parents from Brussels was a hoy of two and a half year?, who appeared to enjoy tho trip even more than his parC "some idea of the success achieved durin" tho fiTst month's flying of the Airco London-Paris service may be gamed from

(he following summary:Flights scheduled, 56. Accomplished, 54. Prevented by weather, iInterrupted bv mechanical defect, 1. Number of miles flown, 13,730. Average speed miles per hour, lift'*. During this period the days described ns favourable for flying numbered only three, piplit were officially noted as mint for flvin", and thirteen verc unfavourable. ' Tho only day nn which the journey was not undertaken on account -of the weather was one on which the wind attained a velocity unknown for years. Handley Page's Work. During the first five weeks of their Lot-don-Paris service up to October 4. the Handlev Page Transport, Limited, nc eomplished 15 flights each way, and carricd a total of 219 passemrers nnd apnroximatelv GOflOlb. of freight. With re-J-ard to their.Brussels service, which, has been in operation for a shorter period, nine trim each way have been made in a fortnight, imd the number of nassengers carried averaged six, per flight. On four consecutive days during the railway strike the comnany turned, mails. the aVerage tin.o occupied in t»W themaik, across Cliitnncl was two and A half hours.