NEW AIR SERVICE

Otago Daily Times, Issue 26043, 5 January 1946, Page 6

NEW AIR SERVICE

SYDNEY TO NORTH AMERICA

NEGOTIATIONS COMPLETED

(Rec. 7 p.m.) SYDNEY, Jan. 4. 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 the dominion Governments concerned have reached a final stage. The service will be an “ Empire ” one. It will be operated by Qantas Empire Airways by arrangements with the British and New Zealand and Australian Governments. Four-engined Liberator aircraft at present engaged on the SydneyColombo service will, it is expected, be diverted to the Pacific for the new service, which will be once weekly from Sydney. Flying time in the 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 x and Honolulu, then San Diego or San Francisco or Vancouver (the North American terminal has not been fixed). The route involves calls at United States airfields. It can be assumed that an agreement has been reached, or virtually reached, on reciprocal landing rights.