Trans-Pacific

Airmails

Growth of American Services

SOME Australian newspapers have re newed the agitation in favour of giving Pan American Airways per mission to extend their regular service, which now runs between the United States and Auckland (NZ), to Australia — from either Noumea or from Auckland.

Under present conditions passengers travel on the regular Clipper service from San Francisco to Auckland, via Honolulu, Canton Island and Noumea; ana continue on to Australia from Auck land by Imperial Airways fiying boats.

This appears to be working quite satis factorily; but the argument is offered that there is no reason why there should be this definite delimitation of American and British spheres, in view of the virtual alliance between the two Powers. It is said that American flying boats should have the right to proceed to Australian ports, and that British flying boats should have an equal right to run across the Pacific to the United States and Canada, if that is practicable.

It was announced in Australia, on July 29, that Pan, American Airways, early in August, would inaugurate a weekly shuttle-service between the United States and Honolulu which, it was hoped would break the “bottle-neck” in existing mail and passenger routes between Australia and Hong Kong.

It should be explained that Pan American Airways now operate two ser vices—one across the North Pacific, from Hawaii via Wake Island, Midway Island, Guam and Manila, to Hong Kong; and the other across the South Pacific, as already described, to Auckland. Appar ently a “bottle-neck” has existed in the connecting service between Hawaii and San Francisco.