AIR SERVICES

Hokitika Guardian, 19 April 1933, Page 5

AIR SERVICES

EXTENSION IN BRITAIN

LONDON, April 13

'A flight .from London Vo Paros and back by air for £5, and aeroplane services 'between London and the seaside, at .a cheaper rate than first-class 'railway, travel are only two of the prospects opened up by si revolutionary plan tjo put- air travel in Britain on a competitive basis with road and rail transport.

Definite 'schemes, which .will come into force this spring, include the operation of scores of services between tjowfts in Britain, and the opening of a new fr.st .service from London to Paris, at half the (present cost 0 f that journey. A,li order hits already been placed fo r ,three machines for operating the Paris service, which will bo the fiir s t rjfval to the -Government-sub-sidised Imperial Airways, Ltd. The machines, Da Havilhnd Dragons six seater aircraft, fitted with radio and capable of cruising comfortably at more than 100 miles an hour—'are being built to the orde,. of MrE. Hillman, w.ho intends to operate the service for a return fare of £5.

This compares' with the single fare of £5 charged by Imperial Airways; Ltd., for itg Silver Wing service.

The Dragon machines are chimed to be the most economical in the world, enabling. fare s to be cut to 3d n mile. Mr Hillman already own s six of them, so that he will have a big fleet ’ for the start of hi 6 Paris service. Plans are being completed, , too, for >a .'series of air *«es between London ’and coastal re-sorts. Services will definitely start this summer between London .and C’acton, London and Ramsgate, Margate and Broadstairs. and .London and Yarmouth,. It is practically 'certain that a. line will also be working this voc.r between London and Torquay, at lower -rates than firs’t-clar,s railway travel, and at an enormous .saving of time. Though first plans for' a LondonMancbester route halve fallen through, at least three comlpanies 'are fighting to be th e flr st to operate the service this year.