CHANGES IN AIR SERVICES

Southland Times, Issue 24152, 14 June 1940, Page 6

CHANGES IN AIR SERVICES

EFFECT OF ITALY’S ' ENTRY INTO WAR

ROUTE BETWEEN N.Z. AND ENGLAND

(United Press Association) AUCKLAND, June 13.

Changes in the air services between New Zealand and England caused by the entry of Italy into the war are explained in a statement by Mr W. Hudson Fysh, managing-director ot Qantas Empire Airways, brought to New Zealand by Mr Nowell D. Jones, traffic superintendent foi’ the company, who arrived by the flying-boat Awarua. Mr Fysh said that the Empire flyingboat service waS being reorganized in conformity with prearranged plans to maintain the air connection between England and Australia and New Zealand in the event of war with Italy. In place of the flying-boat service between England and Egypt there would be a land plane service operating on a route that would cross North Africa. The flying-boat service from Egypt to Australia and New Zealand would be maintained at present and it was expected that there would be little disruption. Definite information was being awaited, but it was hoped to despatch the next service from Rose Bay on schedule. The effect of the recent German invasion of Holland was the subject of comment by Mr J. Mijnlieff, Australian representative of the Royal Netherlands Indies Airways in Sydney in a statement. He said that no news of the final plans for the amended operations of the K.L.M.G. (Royal Dutch Air Lines) service from the Middle East to Batavia had been received. Since last September the K.L.M. service had been operated from Naples, but it would now most likely be based on Cairo. Unofficially he thought a working arrangement between the British Overseas Airways Corporation and the K.L.M. might soon be made. Eleven of the K.L.M. fleet of about 30 Douglas DC3’s were believed to have escaped the German seizure. Several of these had now been taken over by the Royal Netherlands Indies Airways, enabling the larger aircraft to replace the Lockheed 14’s on the Batavia-Sydney route. It is also stated that Australia’s decision to buy seven PBY-5 Consolidated flying-boats will assure the maintenance of the Empire air communications, v/hether over the Indian Ocean from the west coast of Australia to Kenya, via Cocos Island, Diego, Garcia and and Seychelles Islands, or up the Pacific via a choice of island bases.