IMPERIAL AIRWAYS

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXII, Issue 22108, 14 May 1935, Page 9

IMPERIAL AIRWAYS

POLICY EXPLAINED INTERESTING COMPARISONS LONDON. May 5 The worst that can be said against British civil aviation is that its policy of fleet replacement is late, writes Mr. G. E. Woods-Humpherv, managing director of Imperial Airways, Limited, in an article in the periodical Aeroplane. There is good reason, however, for the delay. The industry is waiting for the result of the Empire discussions on the abolition of the air mail surcharge which rivals in importance the introduction of penny postage. Its introduction would not only provide improved postal facilities, but would mean that passengers would enjoy greater speed and comfort and enable Imperial Airways to order larger, speedier and more economical aircraft. Imperial Airways is not opposed to higher speeds, but cannot increase them regardless 'of cost. Comparisons with the United States are unfair, as the American taxpayer subsidised aviation to the extent of £25,000,000 in eight years. Investors lost £74,000,000 in unprofitable American aviation enterprises, and ratepayers spent £18,000,000 on municipal airports. " I admire American air transport," says Mr. Woods-Humphery, " but British conditions are different. No foreign air transport service is approaching financial independence more quickly than Imperial Airways, and none has such low operating costs. " Foreign operators covet the Empire air mails, and have ordered high-speed American aeroplanes, in the hope of augmenting their own slender national traffic. " Imperial Airways is confident of establishing a seven-dav' service to Australia if the Dominions adopt the the British air proposals."