NEW AIR SERVICE.

Thames Star, Volume LXI, Issue 16277, 22 January 1927, Page 5

NEW AIR SERVICE.

EGYPT TO . INDIA.

TERMS OF AGREEMENT,

STATE SUBSIDY £93,600. The establishment of the aerial transport service between Egypt and India marks a decided step in Jm periol aviation, for it has paved the way for much greater things when the development of the ’plane becomes nearer perfection, and when the populace is educated to the patronage of aerial facilities. The agreement that has been made by the British • Air Ministry with Imperial Airways Ltd., a copy of which is in the hands of the Minister for Defence (Hon. Mr. Rolleston), makes a contract for five years from the date of the first flight, and provided for the establishment by the company not later than January Ist, 1927, of a regular fortnightly service with threeengined machines in each direction between Egypt and India, via. Bagdad and Basra for the carriage of mails, goods and passengers. While the agreement contemplates the eventual institution of weekly services as the ultimate development, it has not been found practicable to describe in the agreement the full service contemplated. The survey of the route cairied out in September of 1925 pointed to the necessity of employing three-engined machines thus minimising the risk of forced landings. The number of three-engined machines required for a weekly service would have called for greater capital expenditure than the companies feel justified in incurring for the 'amount of the subsidy offered. Under the agreement the Air Ministry has arranged for certain ground facilities at a number of the places en route. The maximum annual subsidy that can be earned is £93,000. Should this be earned, in full in each of the five years of the contract, and should the cost of the ground organisation falling upon the Air Ministry reach the estimate of about £65,000 fox - the whole period, the total cost of the scheme will he brought slightly above the £500,000 mentioned in the estimate. The institution of a civil air it is pointed out, will make it possible to terminate the fortnightly mail service between Egypt and Iraq hitherto performed by the Royal Ar Force. Arrangements have accordingly been made to withdraw from Iraq the squadron of the R.A.F., with a substantial net saving to the State.