Black Outlook For British Aviation

Chronicle (Levin), 23 July 1948, Page 5

Black Outlook For British Aviation

( N.Z.P.A ,

— Reuter.

Coxmriaht)

Rceeivcd Tliui'sday, 7 p.m. LONDON, July 22. During a T.ords debate on civil aviation, T.ord Bakenham said pritisti civil aviation, nntil new British types of planps -were operating, was face.l with a blaek prospect for the next four or five years. B.O.A.G., throngh tio J'anlt oi its owu, ojicrated many of ils main ronles under a serious eompetitivo disadvantage. The eompetitive trallic position was generallv disquieting. Fnless something drastic could be donc the prosenl trouble could not be overcome. Fntil the British Uandley-Page was opera-tcd in li)50, Britain could not hope to get level and could not bcgin to asserf superiority until real British postwar ty[)es came into service at the beginning of 15)53. Lord Fakenhani said that if British civil aviation continued as at present, British planes might well be driven ol'i world air roules. The Government in tendcd to operate its 22 (hutadairs on main Fmpire roules. The fortunos ot the British aireraft industry and British airline operators was indissolublv linked lmt uniess they took drasti.; action to fill the immediate gap, airline eorporations would be ruined beformiin uf acturers could give them tlm right planes. Givil aviation 's future was \ ery obse.ure. It was economically still a very ehaney business.