CHILDREN TRAVEL ALONE BY AIRPLANE

Sun (Auckland), Volume II, Issue 538, 15 December 1928, Page 30

CHILDREN TRAVEL ALONE BY AIRPLANE

BERLIN TO MOSCOW GERMAN FLYING PROGRESS Interesting information is published by the German Luft-Hansa, a company heavily subsidised by the Government, which has the monopoly of civilian air traffic in Germany. This company has a close working arrangement with the Russian air service, and with it has formed the GermanRussian Air Traffic Company, known briefly as the Derulutt. This combined company has for several years past maintained a regular service between Berlin and Moscow, and it has now opened a new line between Leningrad and Riga, for the working of which several new machines have been purchased. Intercourse has thus been established between Leningrad and Berlin, and also between Helsingfors, Reval, and the German capital. The Deruluft reports that during May, -June, and July of the present year its machines flew 252,000 miles, as compared with 201,500 in the corresponding three months of 1927: that it carried 1.171 passengers, as compared with 592; nearly 22,000 tons of freight and baggage, as compared with 17J tons: and nearly 13 tons of mails, as compared with 121 tons in May to July, 192*. A winter service is shortly to be inaugurated, to carry principallv mails. Flew 2,985,718 Miles The German Luft-Hansa reports that in the first half of the present year it conveyed 46,231 passengers, 3575 tons of baggage, nearly 972 tons of goods, and 185 tons of mails and newspapers. and that its machines flew 2,985,718 miles. The Luft-Hansa announces further that it has made special arrangements for the conveyance of children by air, and even for children travelling alone. It suffices, the company states, that the child is brought by an adult to the collecting office in the town, whence it will be taken to the airport in the company’s car. During the flight the child is kept constantly under observation by adults, for at present the seats for passengersnumbering not more than 20 for the present—are all in one cabin. Accidents that are possible with other means of convevance are, the company asserts, out of the question in the case of a flying machine. Not only are the doors secured by safe

locks, but the pressure from outsid* is too great to permit a child to open them. The Luft-Hansa carries youthful passengers up to three years of age, accompanied by an adult, without payment, and half-Rrice is charged for children up to seven years of age travelling with an adult. Children over seven years of age may travel alone, but they are required to pay the full fare.