RECORD OF A YEAR’S OPERATIONS

Dominion, Volume 34, Issue 198, 19 May 1941, Page 10

RECORD OF A YEAR’S OPERATIONS

Tasman Empire Airways

1461 PASSENGERS CARRIED

.Figures for the year ended March 31 showed that New Zealand and Australia had good cause to be proud of the record achieved by Tasman Empire Airways, stated an otiicial of the company on Saturday. Of 134 trips scheduled. 130 were completed—97.ol per cent, of the possible—an exceptionally high proportion for ocean crossings. Generally 90 per cent, would be considered excellent for such passages in a period of 12 months. All the trips were made by the Aoteai roa and Awarua, which carried a total of 1401 passengers, an average of over 11 a trip. The hours flown amounted to 1150.45. an average of 9.08 hours a trip. The quickest Hight was 6 hours 57 minutes on March 23. The aggregate of miles flown was 174,200, computed on the air-line distance of 13-10 miles between Auckland and Sydney. The mile in this calculation is the standard statute mile, 17C0 yards. The baggage allowance for passengers was 441 b. each. Some took more and others less. The total of ordinary baggage was 33,8171 b., and excess baggage was 01391 b. Mails totalled 77,5711 b., an average of nearly 5971 b. a trip. The mail ton miles were given as 40,402 —equivalent to the carrying of one ton 46,402 ( miles.

Freight accounted for 14,4481 b., an average of a little over 1111 b. a trip. The freight ton miles were 8044.

The success of the transtasman service was also shown in many letters of appreciation received from passengers. A frequent tribute was that the experience of a flight had exceeded expectation of comfort. The following is a summary of the figures for the year Passengers carried, 1401; freight carried, 14,4481 b.; mails carried, 77,5711 b.; baggage carried. 33,8171 b.; excess baggage carried. 61391 b.: passenger miles, 1,957,740; freight ton miles, 8644; mail ton miles, 46.402; miles flown, 174,200: trips scheduled, 134; trips completed. 130: hours flown, 1150.48.