New Empire Transpacific Air Service

Northern Advocate, 4 January 1946, Page 3

New Empire Transpacific Air Service

(Rec. 12.45 p.m.) SYDNEY, This Day. According to aviation authorities, the new transpacific air service from Sydney to North America may be started next month.

Negotiations for the new service between the British and Dominion Governments concerned have reached the final stage.

The service will be an “Empire” one. It will be operated by Qantas Empire Airways by arrangement with the British, New Zealand and Australian Governments.

Four-engined Liberator aircraft, at present engaged on the Sydney-Col-ombo service, will, it is expected, be diverted to the Pacific for the new service, .which will be once weekly from Sydney. USING U.S. FIELDS The flying time, in Liberators, will be just under three days. Fifteen passengers, as well as mail and high priority freight, can be carried. Leaving Sydney, the Liberators will call at Auckland, Fiji, Canton Island and Honolulu, and then San Diego or San Francisco or Vancouver (the North American terminal has not been fixed).

As the route involves calls at United States airfields it can be assumed that agreement has been reached, or is virtually reached, on reciprocal landing rights.