But Fares Are Very High

Two Air Services In Operation Across

The Pacific Now

fJTHERE are now two trans-Pacific air X services in full operation—one con ducted by Pan-American Airways, and the other by Australian National Airways Pty., Ltd., on behalf of the Aus tralian, New Zealand and British Gov ernments. Both companies use DC4 air craft—that is, Skymasters.

PAA’s present southern terminal is in Auckland; while ANA must take their passengers from Australia on' to Van couver. When the long-awaited reciprocal landing-rights agreement is finalised be tween Australia and the USA, PAA will extend their service to Sydney, and ANA will be permitted to land passengers at San Francisco, instead of overcarrying them to Canadian territory and then sending them back by air or land.

A PAA Skymaster was in Sydney on November 11 on a “proving flight” from San Francisco. On board were three officials of the American Civil Aeronau tics Authority, who will determine whether the conditions of flight meet with requirements.

If. they do, and when the Governments concerned agree on landing rights, then PAA will be prepared to extend their service to Australia immediately.

Recently, PAA’s San Francisco-Auck land service was increased and two flights each way now are being made every week.

ANA’s service leaves Sydney every alternate Sunday—that is, they are maintaining a fortnightly service.

Officers of the company are of the opinion that air traffic between Sydney and San Francisco does not warrant an increased service while fares remain at their present high level. This company originally intended to carry passengers for £l5O Australian, about 8 per cent, higher than However, the Australian Government stepped in and insisted that the fare be raised to £214.

It is believed that this is in order that the trans-Pacific service will not under cut the Sydney-London service, which is largely Government-owned. If ANA had been permitted to charge IISOA to San Francisco, travellers would have been able to fly to England via America at a smaller cost than by flying direct to London.

Freight rates are 4/- per pound «Syd ney-Suva; 17/6 per pound Sydney-Van couver.

Bookings on ANA’s service are not subject to any kind of priority and pas sengers can be accommodated at rela tively short notice.

PAN-AMERICAN are not permitted, as yet, to pick up or set down pas sengers in Fiji; but ANA can do this if necesary. However, no allocation of seats has, ‘as yet, been given to the Fiji office of the company, and passengers from Australia to Fiji can be accommo dated only when seats are not required for through passengers, or when a re servation has been made in respect of the Suva-Vancouver part of the journey.

Government-fixed Sydney-Suva fare is £ss—which compares with the £5l/10/fare charged on Qantas flying-boats which make the trip, via Noumea, once or twice a month. The Qantas flying boat journey takes two days; ANA’s Skymaster leaves Sydney on Sunday evening and is at Nadi (Fiji) at dawn on Monday morning—a matter of a few hours. A whole day is spent in Fiji and passengers, who usually have slept through the night, spent it sight-seeing,

while the crew sleeps. The whole trip to San Francisco takes three days. Thirty six passengers are carried, and a crew of 10.

The usual documents, such as a prop erly vised passport and taxation clear ances are required, and also a certifi cate confirming inoculation against smallpox within the last three years.

There appears to be some doubt as to why this certificate is necessary and it is believed to be on the insistence of the Fiji Government, as such a docu ment is not necessary for landing in Canada or the United States.

No certificate is necessary in Fiji for air-travellers via New Zealand from Australia; Noumea, which is an over night stop for Qantas, therefore appears to be the reason for this insistence. How ever, as the Skymasters of ANA go direct from Sydney to Nadi, Fiji, there appears to be an anomaly somewhere.

THE high fares, fixed by Governments whose cause is supposed to be that of the common man, has caused some bitter amusement among would-be air travellers.

It will be interesting to watch devel opments in the next year or so when the large pool of frantic travellers, which accumulated in the war years, has been drained and travel is back to normal.

It seems unlikely that people wishing to travel between America and Austral asia will be so numerous that they will support three air services (Canada is to enter the field at some later date) whose fares are over £2OO for a three-day trip.

In the meantime, we can assimilate the fact that a Government monopoly is just as vicious as any other kind of mono poly.