H—3s

TABLE OF COMPARATIVE ANNUAL FIGURES

PROGRESS REPORT Progress has been made in all departments during the year under review. 8,616 hours and 1,129,944 miles were flown, compared with 6,327 hours and 881,421 miles completed in the preceding year. 1939 was the only previous year in which more than one million miles of flight were attained, when the mileage was 1,011,855. 98-73 per cent, of all scheduled operations were commenced, and 98-47 per cent, were completed. The unduplicated route mileage on the 31st March, 1947, was 4,131. The Corporation is a member of the International Air Transport Association, generally known as I.A.T.A. An increased passenger service was provided, by which 67,436 passengers were carried, an excess over the previous year of 12,123. All services catered for air freight, which attained a total uplift of 418,354 lb., a substantial increase over the previous year, in which 261,080 lb. were carried. A considerable quantity of air-mail was carried on all services, a part of which originated from Great Britain, Australia, the U.S.A., and other overseas countries. A number of charter flights were undertaken. Property and equipment have shown exceptional increase. In this connection a policy has been rigidly followed of obtaining aircraft, spares, plants, and tools from the R.N.Z.A.F. before purchasing overseas. In the forthcoming year development will entail considerable expenditure on premises, storage facilities, all types of equipment, and additional staff, in accordance with the necessities of an expanding organization. This development will enable the Corporation to provide increased services on existing routes to an extent that should meet the expanding traffic requirements of New Zealand, while extending beyond the Commonwealth to encompass regional services to the islands in the South Pacific, at present served by the R.N.Z.A.F. The inauguration of additional domestic services is likewise under consideration. The increased staff necessary to maintain these extensive operations is drawn largely from R.N.Z.A.F. personnel, while the existing staff consists of approximately 50 per cent, ex Air Force personnel. The Corporation is keenly aware of the great services that aviation can render the Dominion, and intends to satisfy the needs of commerce, industry, and the individual.

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— Miles flown. Passengers carried. Freight and 1 Mail carried. 1936 1941 1946 360,140 574,415 1,407,583 7,187 37,200 81,340 lb. 50,612 284,702 965,265