21 Years’ Operations By T.E.A.L.

Press, Volume C, Issue 29498, 27 April 1961, Page 9

21 Years’ Operations By T.E.A.L.

Tasman Empire Airways. Ltd., will complete its twenty-first year this weekend.

On April 30. 1940. the airline flew its first scheduled commercial flight, using the Short flying-boat Aotearoa to carry 10 passengers from Auckland to Sydney. The aircraft was commanded by Captain J. W. Burgess. Since then the airline's services and traffic have grown with the growth of international aviation.

T.E.A.L. progressed from the original Short flying-boats through Sandringhams and Solents to DC-6s and now jetprop Electras. Each successive generation of aircraft represented increases in speed, engine power and technical advancement, but most important of all, capacity to carry the ever-growing flow of international air traffic through the South Pacific. By the time the airline had reached 10 years of age to 1950, routes had been extended to take in Wellington. Christchurch (with chartered Skymasters) and Fiji. In 1951 the airline’s routes were extended further along the Coral Route to Tahiti by way of Samoa and the Cook Islands.

Growth Of Traffic In the 21 years of its operations, the company's route network has grwn .. om 1300 mile* to 13,000 mile*. Its passenger traffic has grown seventy-fold, from an annual rate of 1461 to 103382. In the first year « Ogg*tion T.KAL man crossings and earned 1461 passengers. Figures have grown progressively through the years, so that in the year ended March 31 the airline flew 1866 Tasman crossings and carried 88.181 passengers on Tasman routes. Throughout its 21 years the company will have flown 20.547 services over its routes and carried a total, including traffic estimated for next week, of 720.035 passengers. During its 21 years, T.E.A.L has earned profits in 17 of these years totalling £ 1.57 m. and incurred losses in only four years of £570.000, leaving a net earned surplus of £lm. Over the last five years the average profit ha* been £223.000

per annum. To mark the occasion, the general manager (Mr F. A. Reeves) announced that hi* company would hold a number of functions and promotions during this year. “W* are taking the opportunity of celebrating our twenty-first birthday with activities more of an educational nature, which will show to the public something of the ever-growing significance of aviation in our daily lives.” he said.

•The biggest item will be a major travelling exhibition entitled ‘By Air—Tomorrow.' which will, from about July 1 onwards, tour extensively through New Zealand to show the public, and more particularly older school children, something of what is coming up during the next two decades.

"Our plans for this exhibition are coming along well. We will have participation from six major overseas manufacturers of aircraft and aircraft systems, and by late next month we should be able to give details about the exhibition’s proposed itinerary through New Zealand."

The airline is also planning an anniversary photographic competition—open to all photographers living in territories and countries to which its aircraft fly. Like all International airlines, T.E.A.L. has played its part in helping to press New Zealand's claims in both civil aviation and in tourist promotion.

Among the trophies awarded the airline and its staff through the years is the Cumberbatch trophy awarded by the Guild of Air Pilots and Air Navigators for outstanding contribution toward

maintenance of safety in the air. This award was made for 1951. The Brackley Memorial Trophy, also made by the guild, was recently awarded to the company’s veteran flying-boat captain. J. S. Shephard, last of the world's great flying-boat captains. This was presented to Captain Shephard by the Duke of Edinburgh earlier this month in London.