AERIAL TRANSPORT

Evening Post, Volume CVI, Issue 156, 31 December 1923, Page 7

AERIAL TRANSPORT

NEW BRITISH-COMPANY

UNDER GOVERNMENT SUBSIDY

PLANS FOR A WIDE AIR SERVICE.

(CNITED PRBSS 1 ASSOCIATION.—COPYRIOHI.)

(RBCTBR'S TELBORAH.)

1 (Received 31st December, 10 a.m.)

LONDON, 30th December

. The agreement between the Government and the Imperial Air Transport Company, Limited, for the purpose of operating an aerial transport service in Europe has now been issued.

The company comprises the Handley Page, Instone, Daimler, and British Marine Air Navigation- Companies with a capita! of £1,000,000. The company will be entirely British. The Government is entitled to nominate two directors. The agreement will operate from next April, and; until' the.company lias repaid the subsidies'it receives under agreement, it shall maintain efficient air. services- from London to Paris,. Brussels, Amsterdam,SouthaiVijiton, the Channel Isles, and other approved places. ; A minimum of a hundred thousand miles must be completed annually for the first four years.,- and a million, miles- in the subsequent year. The Government subsidy for' the first four .years is £137,----000 yearly, und thereafter it will gradually be reduced 'to £32,000, until the tenth year.

All construction necessary for the air service, all engine and accessories wiLkbe British. Only pilots enrolled in the Air Force reserve' or an auxiliary Air Force will be employed. The technical and administrative personnel; will lie British. All aerodromes .and' aircraft bases' of the company will be at' the disposal of the Government ie a national emergency.