Still Held Up

Trans-Tasman and Trans-Pacific Air Services

THE situation in relation to the inau guration of a trans-Pacific air-mail service is as full of contradictions and mystery as ever.

Pan American Airways stated, several weeks ago, that they were all ready to commence a service between San Fran cisco and Auckland, via Hawaii, Canton Island and Noumea, and that they were waiting only for the word “go” from Washington.

But Washington remains strangely dumb; P.A.A. station staffs stand inactive at Canton Island, Noumea and Auck land; and. up to three days before this issue went to press, there still was no word of when the first P.A.A. plane would open the service.

Meanwhile, Honolulu reports that the position simply is that Pan American Airways have not sufficient Boeing Clip pers to carry on the proposed new ser vice—that the company actually has not got enough Boeing Clippers to carry on the Atlantic and North Pacific Services for which it is responsible. New Boeing Clippers can be built, of course; but the whole of the aeroplane building resources of the United States at present are con centrated on war orders from Europe.

Meanwhile, the lonely “Aotearoa” — Imperial Airways’ boat sent out as the first of three to carry on the service between Sydney and Auckland—is flut tering vainly between Sydney and Auck land, and apparently doing nothing.

The efficient organisation which carries on Imperial Airways at the Australian end, Qantas Ltd., says that it would be quite feasible to commence the Syd ney-Auckland air-mail service with the “Aotearoa” alone, but that what actually is holding up the inauguration of the service is the inability of the three Gov ernments concerned —Britain, New Zea land and Australia —to agree about the terms and conditions under which the service will be carried on.

So, in spite of all official blather and bureaucratic reassurances, the people in the Pacific Territories who are awaiting the commencement of the trans-Pacific air-mail are recommended to believe it when they see it.

The Position of P.A.A.

From Our Own Correspondent

Honolulu. Jan. 10.

HERE are what appear to be the latest facts about the prospects of Pan American Airways starting the proposed air service from Hawaii to Auckland, N.Z.

Developments in the Pacific must wait until the company has its Atlantic pro gramme in better shape.

On the Atlantic, the company now

faces the prospect of stiff competition from a new and powerful American company, called American Export Air lines, a subsidiary of the successful steamship company which for years has operated passenger and freighters be tween the U.S. east coast and the Mediterranean.

When the first six Boeing Clippers were completed a year ago, it was said one would be assigned to the N.Z. run, but to-day two of them are trying to maintain schedules on the North Paci fic and the other four are on the Atlan

tic.

The Nth. Pacific service is beset with serious delays. Since August, 1938, only seven round flights, between California and the Orient, have been made on schedule, although the two new Boeings came into service in February, 1939.

The China Clipper left San Francisco last on December 11, but did not return there, owing to a series of delays, until January 4.

The Philippine Clipper was due to leave there on December 19. It made three attempts to get away, but was forced back each time. At this writing it is still in San Francisco.

The California Clipper left San Fran cisco on December 20 but, so far, has not returned. At this writing it is delayed through engine trouble in Manila, where it has been since December 28.

The Honolulu Clipper has been in San Francisco since December 30.

The position to-day is that there are three Clippers idle in San Francisco and one at Manila. The air-mail is being carried by steamer. The “Monterey,” which arrived here to-day, carried Clip per passengers who have been Clipper delayed in California for two weeks. rE P.A.A. bases to N.Z. may 'oe ready for the service, but obviously, con sidering the above facts, the company lacks a spare Clipper to start the service.

If one is taken for the N.Z. run, it means robbing either the North Pacific or Atlantic services of one. American public opinion, which wants better ser vice for the U.S. taxpayers who pay the huge subsidies, may not stand for it.

“Fiji Will Be Included”

Incidentally, it is known here that if and when the N.Z. service is launched, Fiji will be included as a stop soon.

Several flights will have to be made under Government supervision before passengers will be permitted to travel.

The Government, too, has yet to okay the bases at Canton, Noumea and Auckland.

The California Clipper at Honolulu, Hawaii.