EMPIRE AIR TRAVEL

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume LX, Issue 18265, 7 December 1933, Page 4

EMPIRE AIR TRAVEL

GROWTH OF TRAFFIC STRIKING FACTS AND FIGURES Tim continued growth of traffic,- on the. Empire air lines of Imperial Airways is illustrated by fresh figures which have just become available. During six months, from April to September ibis year, the passengers, mails, and freight carried on the routes <o Egypt. India, Burma, and Africa showed an all-round increase of 45.;>4 per cent., as compared with a similar period of 1932. The percentage increase in passengers was 43.92 per cent. In mails it was 46.18 per cent.; and in freight 40.5!) per cent.. By (lie air mail to India, as revealed hy the latest figures, appreciably more than 49,009 letters are now being airborne weekly, while on the extension which was 'established recently across, India, between Karachi and Calcutta, the loads in each direction are already averaging approximately 14,000 letters a week.

Statistics for the first six months ot 1933 have become available in regard to air transport in South Africa. They show that, during this period, the total number of passengers by airway who disembarked in South Africa was, more than 150 per cent, greater than-in a corresponding period of 1932. while a number embarking oil air journeys in South Africa was 250 per cent, higher than in the previous year. During tho same period of six months, so far as air-mails to and from South Africa were concerned, the. inward and outward loads showed increases of friMn 130 to 160 per cent.; while air freight to destinations throughout South Atrica was 162 p'6r cent, higher. Indicating the growth of air-minded-

ness in South Africa, arc figures which relate to the Iraltie at. the Gennislon airport, Johannesburg where, at the present time, £30,000 is being spent on structural and other improvements. Those figures show that during a recent period of four weeks the total of passengers in and out of the air port was 160 per cent, greater than in a. corresponding month ol 1932. while the nuniImr of aircraft using the air-port lias, just lately, shown an increase of approximately 70 per cent. Other reports from various points along the Empire .air-lines show the general activity which is in progress, and also llm interest which is being taken,in the iirrjval and departure of the aerial man. At Khartoum, for example, more than 200 natives and messengers are often to he .seem surrounding• llie I’osh-Office, waiting for the incoming air-imail to he sorted" so that they can collect urgent letters for their respective employers. During recent months the air-mail loads in and out of Khartoum have been showing an increase of approximately 40 per Cent., while a considerable growth' is also indicated in the use of air transport by Government officials, who, when tliev are on journeys of inspect,ion, final that, (lying saves them not merely days but weeks. Constantly, as reports iiow show, aerodrome facilities are being improved along our Empire air lines. Work of great importance continues to be done in Smith Africa under tho provisions of the Beit Trust, the funds available enabling new landing-grounds to be provided, fresh wireless facilities allorded, and miniy other developments carried out; while along the Imperial Airways Eastern routes, connecting England with India ami Binimih. aerodrome improvements are. now actively in 'band; more especially from the point of view of providing allwcntlier runways enabling laygc nircrnl't to alight and take otf without difficulty during the periods ot Hie' monsoon rains.