of Boeings
p. 10 · Read in the full issue
Slow Progress In Trans Pacific
Flying Plans
Southern Service Apparently Awaits Delivery of Boeings
THE position in relation to the proposed Pan American Airways service be tween Hawaii and New Zealand is still indefinite.
Not a thing has been done, in the shape of flying, since the “Samoan Clipper” was lost in December, 1937. P.A.A. maintain a staff and a base at Auckland; and Mr.
Harold Gatty, P.A.A. manager there, re peatedly tells the press that “it won’t be long now”.
Reports from other sources, however, insist that the P.A.A. Auckland service is indefinitely postponed.
It is evident that something is being done by P.A.A. in Noumea, in preparing a station for big planes. That suggests that the new route may not be Hawaii to Auckland, but Hawaii-Canton-Noumea- Australia. (Latest development on page 5).
Meanwhile, Australia is engaged in some very delicate negotiations. The Dutch want permission to run another regular airmail service between Batavia and Aus tralia. The latter is quite agreeable: but fears that, if this goes on, it will be diffi cult to refuse landing-rights to the Jap anese, who are pushing their airlines southward.
French lines run out to Saigon (Co chin China). They also may seek landing
rights in Australia. If they are refused, France may not give landing-rights in New Caledonia to Australian lines, when they are ready to start flying directly across the Pacific to Canada, instead of via New Zealand.
The well-informed aviation correspon dent of “Sydney Morning Herald” on January 24, said: “Pan American Airways will not re commence its trans-Pacific service be tween San Francisco and Auckland (N.Z.) until its new Boeing clippers have com menced regular services between New York and France and San Francisco and Manila (Philippine Islands), according to the latest advices from the United States.
“Officials of the company say that six of the new flying-boats have been ordered, and that four wil be required for the Atlantic and North Pacific services. Two Boeing flying-boats are ready, and a third will shortly be completed.
“It would now appear that Pan Ameri can Airways’ service to New Zealand will not commence before Imperial Airways, Ltd. extends the Empire route across the Tasman to Auckland. There is also a chance that Pan American Airways may decide to come direct to Australia by way
of the Phoenix Group and New Caledonia, leaving the Auckland-Suva-Honolulu line to Imperial Airways, Ltd.”