START IN FEW WEEKS

Gisborne Herald, Volume LXVI, Issue 20030, 31 August 1939, Page 11

START IN FEW WEEKS

PASSENGER SERVICE

FOUR DAYS FROM 'FRISCO

(Per Press Association.)

AUCKLAND, this day.

While the inauguration of the passenger service from San Francisco to Auckland is subject to the approval of the United States Civil Aeronautics’ Authority, Pan-American Airways hope to be able to commence this within a matter of weeks, according to Mr. J. C. Leslie, operations manager for the Pacific division of tire company’s services. Already the company was virtually ready to begin ordinary passenger flights on the route, he added. Mr. Leslie said the company’s present intention was to run a fortnightly service to New Zealand. A preliminary study of how best to combine the North and South Pacific jroutes suggested that Sunday departures from San Francisco could be most satisfactory. Auckland would be reached on the following Friday, four days out, when allowance was made for crossing the international date line. The return, journey would be made during the following week. Thp capacity of the Boeings over the long route to Auckland would be about 36 passengers, Mr. Leslie said. There was substantial traffic .between the United States and New Zealand and the company anticipated good support from the start, From present indication that traffic was likely to develop considerably.