OVERSEAS AIR LINKS

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume 87, Issue 42, 20 February 1943, Page 5

OVERSEAS AIR LINKS

MAINTAINED BY BRITISH CIVIL PLANES Rugby, Feb. 17. The British Overseas Airways Corporation, which is now Britain’s only international Air transporter concern and uses only American aircraft, as no British planes are available, in 1942 flew 10,000,000 miles during the year and carried 43,000 passengers, 950 tons of mail and 2250 tons of treight. Since taking over the North Atlantic return ferry in 1941 the corporation has made over 200 crossings tor the loss ot only one aircraft. Last year five different Americar. airline companies joined British Overseas Airways on the North Atlantic routes, but during the winter the British company alone maintained these vital air communications. It also Maintained a service between Baltimore and Britain, Baltimore ano Lagos, and Lagos and Britain, also to Lisoon and across Africa to the Middle East. South Africa and India. There are also other services which cannot be mentioned for security reasons

Answering a House of Commons questioner if Britain had entered into discussions with any foreign Power regarding international control of air transport after the war, Mr. Anthony Eden said that no discussions had yet taken place, although the question of civil aviation was one of many subjects which would call for consid’ration with other Governments in order to reach an agreement acceptable to a11.—8.0.W.