NEW AIR SERVICES

Taranaki Daily News, 22 December 1932, Page 7

NEW AIR SERVICES

DEVELOPMENT IN FIJI. GOVERNMENT SUBSIDY. j Auckland, Dec. 20. Passenger air services in Fiji will soon be an established fact, according to Mr. A. S. Cross, managing director of Fiji Airways, a subsidiary of Guinea Airways, who is a through passenger to Suya by the liner Monterey. A few months ago Mr. Cross,' Who was formerly manager of the Guinea Airways, made a tour of the Pacific groups, and he came to the conclusion that Fiji was a most promising place in which to start new air services. With the object of finalising plans he paid a visit to Fiji two months ago. “The Fijian Government gave us a good hearing, and agreed to grant us an annual subsidy of £l5OO for three years, said Mr. Cross this morning. The company would commence operations / with. three new two-passenger planes and p Spartan plane which would be takeai v over* from Captain Fenton, of Suva, When the company has gained full knowledge of the conditions in Fiji it was hoped to add a Genairco aircraft, to the company’s fleet At the present time a 30ft speed launch is being built for the company’s fleet. At the present time be used in conjunction with the planes. While in Sydney recently, Mr. Cross inspected the Southern Cross, which is to be flown to New Zealand by Sir Charles Kingsford. Smith early in the New Year. “The machine is being given complete overhaul, and a large fuel tank is being built in the main cabin. Public interest in the flight in Sydney has not : yet been fully aroused, but it is bound < to increase as the date of the take-off y approaches,” lie said. . . ■ ■ ■ ... '' ■ '