Fiji Airways.
p. 18 · Read in the full issue
New Service in Operation.
SUCH good progress has been made in the organisation of Fiji Airways, Ltd., that the Company’s plant is already in operation and an aerial service estab lished.
The first flight of one of the two sea planes taken to Fiji recently was made on March 1, when Captain Cross took up one of the machines for a test. Despite unfavourable weather conditions the flight was satisfactory in every way.
The new service began with the flight on March 18. A special air mail was carried to Lautoka in souvenir envelopes and many people took advantage of the opportunity of using the first air mail.
The ’plane was piloted by Captain Fen ton and left the Company’s hangar at Walu Bay at 6.30 a.m. for Lautoka. Over Viti Levu Bay the ’plane encountered the heaviest rainstorm in Captain Fen ton’s experience as a pilot and caused a detour to avoid the worst of the storm.
Returning from Lautoka, Captain Fen ton followed the coast via Sigatoka; but, finding easterly winds very strong, he rose to 8,000 feet, where the conditions were better. The return flight of 112 miles was made in 95 minutes.
On the 23rd of March, the Com pany’s two aeroplanes, piloted by Captains Fenton and Cross carried pas sengers to Levuka and on to Lambasa.
Both flights were uneventful and were made to schedule.
The Company’s programme provides for flights to all principal points of the Group at regular intervals and the ’planes will return to Suva by a different route from the outward journey. The passenger rates show the fares on schedule flights to be remarkably cheap, the fare from Suva to Levuka being only £1/16/- and passengers are al lowed to take 20lbs. of luggage without additional charge. Special charter flights are charged at the rate of 1/6 per mile.
The Government of Fiji has agreed to subsidise Fiji Airways for a period of three years to the extent of £1500 per year. It has also permitted the Company to import its plant and supplies free of duty. In return for this the Company is to maintain and operate in an airworthy and seaworthy condition a seaplane pas senger and goods service involving the use of two single-engined seaplanes, car rying a load of at least 360 lb., in addi tion to the pilot, fuel and equipment, one high speed passenger cruiser; and one small motor boat. The Company must also use the routes that are approved by the Government and fly not less than 40,000 miles per annum. It has also the right to ply for private hire and shall not be compelled to undertake any scheduled flight unless accorded reason able public support, which is defined as half the minimum load. Two pilots and one ground engineer must be kept in constant employment by the Company under the agreement. The minimum fare for passengers has been fixed by the agreement between the Company and the Government at not more than 9d. per mile and the ’planes are required to carry the mails free of charge up to a limit of 50 lbs. The freight rate is 1/per lb.
Mr. Armer Hamilton, who has been manager of the Rabaul branch of the Bank of New South Wales, will return to Sydney in May. He will be succeeded by Mr. Nottle, manager of the Horsham (Victoria) branch.