FIFTEEN YEARS' PROGRESS

Otago Daily Times, Issue 23805, 11 May 1939, Page 15

FIFTEEN YEARS' PROGRESS

HISTORY OF IMPERIAL AIRWAYS 40,500,000 MILES FLOWN 631.000 PASSENGERS CARRIED (From Our Own Correspondent) LONDON, Mar. 30. British air transport is_ about, to reach another milestone of progress, this being the completion of 15 years in the history of Imperial Airways. It was on March 31. 1924, that the company was incorporated as “ the chosen instrument” of the Government. its mission being to develop air transport not only on European routes, but also on long-distance air lines between the Homeland and Empire destinations overseas. When Imperial Airways began flying. its fleet comprised 15 small single and twin-engined craft. To-day, in operation or construction, it has 87 big multi-engined air liners. In 1924 the company’s routes between London and the Continent represented a mileage total of 1760. To-day the aircraft of Imperial Airways and of its subsidiary and associated companies are operating over approximately 30,000 miles of European and Empire routes, the latter connecting England with Egypt, Africa, India, Malaya, China, and Australia. The most recent figures available show that, since the inception of Imperial Airways, the company’s aircraft have flown a total distance of 40.500.000 miles, and have carried approximately 631,000 passengers.