AVIATION NOTES.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 20288, 22 December 1927, Page 17

AVIATION NOTES.

IMPERIAL AIRWAYS CHALLENGED. FARE-CUTTING WAR. (From Our Own Correspondent.) LONDON’, November 5. It is reported that the British position on the cross-Channel air route is being seriously challenged, and sharp farecutting is the consequence. Second-class fares, never before introduced by any air company, have been announced by Imperial airways. The Air Union, a French company, has decided to retaliate by introducing still lower fares. Further, the British lino will now have to compete against a great new fleet of French aeroplanes thai will be a quarter of an hour faster than any other machines on the route. The new fares are: First class by Imperial Airways, £4 15s and £9 return. First class by Air Union, £4 10s single. Second class by Imperial Airways, £3 15s single and £7 10s return. Second class by Air Union, £3 10s single. , The present fares are:Imperial Airways, £5 5s and £lO return.

Air Union, £5 single. It is also reported that the Air Union v has made such cuts in fares .on the Riviera service—Paris-Lyons-Marseilles—-that the cost is cheaper than travel by the trains de luxe, such as the famous “ Blue Train.”

The second class services, it is pointed i out. do not imply any reduction in the j safety factor. It refers simply to the I nature of the accommodation provided ' and to the fact that the service leaves ’ at a time which is not always so convenient for first class passengers. The first class service by Air Union provides luncheon on board under the control of the International Sleeping Car Company. i FAST FRENCH MACHINES. I The new French fleet will include the ■ Liorct-Olivior machines, which are exceedingly fast. There will appear a new type of Bleriot. fitted with two Jupiter engines. A refreshment bar will be built in each machine. The first of these machines is being tested now by Bossoutrot, the French air ace. Another machine, oven faster than the Bleriot, will be the 20-passcnger “ Blue Bird” —a Farman, with twin engines placed tandem, • originally designed for Droughin’s Paris to New York flight. Drouhin eventually signed up with Mr Levine, the American, and was stopped from making his attempt. This machine will have two cabins, one of which will be a restaurant car. Lastly, the French Government lias ordered an all-metal aeroplane from the .Schneider Company, to be placed on the route. This three-engined machine will shortly reach Croydon on its maiden ' -ip. DWINDLING BRITISH SERVICE. It is a matter of considerable concern Gays the correspondent of the Morning Post) that Imperial Airway is, winch -time years ago hoped to spread a network of British lines all over the Continent, now sec their lines dwindling. Franco and Germany continue to increase their i influence a!) over Europe and North i Africa. The German air line Lint Hansa sends aeroplanes daily into England, I! a|land, France, Denmark, Sweden, Russia, Austria, and Switzerland. Groat Britain has already allowed Germany to operate the Londnn-Ainstcrdarn route, on which it was once supreme, am! the only British lines non- in operation are Lomlon-Paris. London-Cologne, ami Southampton- Gmun sey. There is also a British route between Cairo and Basra.

Britain's national losses due to fire arnounied to about £7,00j,C - X' m a recent •rear In the same rear fire did damage c-limated at £107,000,000 in the United States-