PAN-AMERICAN AIRWAYS

Taranaki Central Press, Volume IV, Issue 365, 20 February 1937, Page 5

PAN-AMERICAN AIRWAYS

PACIFIC AIR ROUTE. TO AUSTRALIA Scare Story Denied by Mr. Gatty. Press Association —Copyright. Sydney, Feb. 19. The Sydney Sun says that PanAmerican Airwlays is considering diverting the proposed new air route through New Calodohla to Australia instead of New Zealand. The Sun adds that in well-inform-ed circles at Sydney it is also believed that Colonel Charles Lindberg, as technical adviser to the company, may come to Australia and possibly visit New Zealand and New Caledonia.

Favourable consideration has been given to the alternative route as because by calling at Nev Caledonia the flight to Australia will be shorter. It is understood that tentaive ap proaches have been made to the French Government, which owns Caledonia.

A denial that there was any foundation for the assertion contained in the Sydney message that the PanAmerican Airways company is considering omitting New Zealand from the Pacific air route was given by Mr. Harold Gatty, representative ot the company, when interviewed et Wellington last night. He declared that the Sun wav “getting hold of a great deal of ridiculous information.”

The plans of Pan-American Airways had always been for the inclusion of New Zealand, Mr. Gatty said. The Tasman was something that both Australia and New Zealand were in terested in and the company had no wish to interfere with that. The provision of a call at Auckland would help to preserve that interest. “We have never had any other intention but to come to New Zealand and are content to lay our plans on this line,” added Mr. Gatty. “There is no possibility of a change in the plans." Mr. Gatty also refuted the suggestion that Colonel Lindberg might visit this part of the World.