EMPIRE AIR SERVICE

Manawatu Standard, Volume LX, Issue 167, 14 June 1940, Page 6

EMPIRE AIR SERVICE

NEW ZEALAND LINK. YIA NORTHERN AFRICA. Per Press Association. _ AUCKLAND, June 13. Changes in the air services between New Zealand and England caused by the Italian entry into the war are explained in a statement by Mr W. Hudson Fysh (managing-director of Qantas Empire Airways) brought to New Zealand by Mr Nowell D. Jones (traffic superintendent lor the company), who arrived by the flying-boat Awarua. Mr Fysh said the Empire flying-boat service was being reorganised in conformity with prearranged plans to maintain the air connection between England and Australia and New Zealand in tile event of war with Italy. In place of the flying-boat service between England and Egypt there would be a land ’plane service operating over a route that would cross Northern Africa. The flving-boat service from Egypt to Australia and New Zealand would be maintained as at present, and there would, it was expected, be little disruption. Definite information was' being awaited, but it was hoped to dispatch the next service from Rose Bay on schedule. PACIFIC ROUTE. Confirmation of approval of the license to develop the Pacific air route from San Francisco to Auckland has been received by Mr A. L. Lewis, airport manager for Pan-American Airways in Auckland, from the Californian office ot the company. The message added that early inauguration of the schedule was expected, but as yet no definite date could be given. “Everything is in reaaintss in Auckland for wherever the service starts,” said Mr Lewis. “I have no knowledge whether passengers will be carried on the first flight of whether the survey flights so far conducted will have been considered sufficient for approval of immediate transport of passengers. Wo have been waiting for definite news and look forward eagerly to the operation of the service.” DUTCH LINE’S OPERATIONS. The effect of the recent German invasion of Holland was the subject of comment by Mr J. Mijnlieff-' (Australian representative of the Royal Netherlands Indies Airways in Sydney); 111 a statement he said that no news of final plans for amended operations of the K.L.M. (Royal Dutch 'Air Lines) service from the Middle East to Batavia had been received Since last September the K.L.M. service had been operated, from Naples, but it would now most likelv be based on Cairo. Unofficially, he thought a working arrangement, between the British Overseas Airways Corporation and K.L.M. might soon .be made. Eleven of the K.L.M. fleet of about 30 Douglas D C!.3’s were believed to have escaped German seizure. Several of these had now been taken over by the Royal Netherlands Indies Airways, enabling larger aircraft to replace the Lockheed 14’s on the Batavm-Sydney route. It is also stated that Australia’s decision to buy seven PBY-5 consolidated flying-boats will assure the maintenance of Empire air communications, whether over the Indian Ocean from the West Coast of Australia to Kenya, via. Cocos Island, Diego, Garcia, and Seychelles -Islands, or up the Pacific via a choice of island ba^es.