CROSS-CHANNEL AIR SERVICE.

Taranaki Daily News, 28 February 1920, Page 5

CROSS-CHANNEL AIR SERVICE.

HANDLEY PAGE PLANS FOR 1030. During 1019, the first year of British commercial aviation, Han'dley Page passenger and freight-carrying aeroplanes carried 400G passengers and 43.2671bs of freight over a distance of fi O ,P43 miles. This was accomplished between May 1 and December 31. On the London-Paris servic, between September 2 and the end of the year, 018 passengers and 15,0521b of freight were carried, the total distance covcren being 34,000 miles. The rough crossings, crowded trains, and Customs' delays involved in a journey to the Continent are resulting in an increasing demand for the comfort and rapidity. of air travel. By aeroplane the trip from London to Paris takes under throe hours, while by train and steamer i* hours is not unusual. This year the London, Paris, and Brussels Air Services will be developed considerably; new air routes will be. opened, and mail, passenger, and freightcarrying contracts which have been secured abroad will begin to operate in the spring. The converted Handlcy Page bombing machines which have been carrying out the Continental air services' dfe to be replaced by the new model Handley Page Commercial Aeroplane W.B, which carries 15 passengers or two tons of cargo at a speed of 112 miles an hour.