ANTIPODEAN AIR NETWORK ANNOUNCED

Chronicle (Levin), 11 April 1946, Page 5

ANTIPODEAN AIR NETWORK ANNOUNCED

SERVICES TO ENGLAND AND ACROSS PACIFIC Received Thursday 10.20 p.m. CANBERRA, Aprii j.0. The internaLonal aixxuxes xxiac wxii link Austrana with the world were reveaiea by the Air Minister (ivir. xjra...ei'ord) in tne House of Representatives today. He gave detaixs of tne three services that v.Rl operate across tne Pacific, two being Rmpire controlled and the other ^merican. "jL'ne servxcej to Engiand will he operated from Sydimy, via xuuxa, aua mere Wxn uc a reguiar service to New Zeaiand. The British Commonweaxth Pacific airlines to operate across tne Pacific will be based on aydney, with Australia having 50 per cent of the snares, x*ew Zifcaxand bu aua tne 'Ciiiited KingJOhi LJi " • The trans-Pacific airline operated by _ cii ^i.ii^.x'j.„aii /Axiwayd oii oenaxf oi uhe united States wiii commence prob_uiy aoout txxfe same time. Another trans-raciric line, operated oy trans-canaaian Airlines and hased prohably on Vancouver, will operate in. partnership with the Common w ea. nxriiries. A parallel partnership of the ser yices between Jjondon and Sydney, via india; wiii oe flown by British Overoeas Airways Corporation and Qantas Bmpire Airways. The trans-Tasman service will be changed to make New Zeaiand, instead oi the United Kingdom, the main capital holder, and Australia wiii ta..o a greater share. Australia and New Zeaiand have been given permission to operate regionai' services in defined areas of the Pacific. Aifstralia may operate services io Fiji and the islands north and northwest of Australia, and New Zeaiand to Fiji and the islands east of that line. Merlin-engined Skymasters for . the Bmpire trans-Pacific service are not iikely to he availahle till next year. In 4order to get the service started at ihe earliest date, the Austraiian opervtor has been authorised to arrange for in interim service by contract. Trans-Canada Airlines and B.C.P.A. are to use the same type of planes, aooling their traffic and revenue. Lanlastrian land-planes and Hythe flylng'ooats will fly the Australia-United Siugdom service.