Unknown Quantity
p. 13 · Read in the full issue
Sydney-San Francisco Air Services Still
But Qantas Extend to Rabaul
ALTHOUGH the Pacific Air Service Agreement between the British Commonwealth and America was signed on December 3, there have been no alterations in trans-Pacific air services in the last month. At this writing (Jan uary 14) Australian National Airways Pty. Ltd. on behalf of British Common wealth Pacific Airlines are still making Sydney-Vancouver trips once fortnightly.
They call at San Francisco but are still not permitted to land passengers there.
Neither has the other trans-Pacific ser vice—Pan-American Airways extended its service to Australia yet, although it is possible that this service may begin about the end of January. It is ex pected that there will be three flights per month Sydney-San Francisco and oae San Francisco-Auckland. Interme diate landing points are Hawaii, Canton Island. Fiji, New Caledonia.
In the meantime, a recommendation has been made by the American Civil Aeronautics Board bo Washinton that the British Commonwealth Pacific Air lines be granted a permit as a foreign air-carrier to operate between San Fran cisco and the South Pacific. It Is ex pected that this permit will be granted without delay.
It is assumed that Australian National Airways Pty. Ltd. will continue to run the trans-Pacific service on behalf of BCPA, at least for the present. It is understood, however, that no official con tract has yet been signed between the two parties concerned. Neither have any other details of the regular service been made known to the public. The only alteration in ANA’s service at present is the recent allocation -of two seats for Sydney-Fiji passengers. These seats may be booked in the ordinary way in Aus tralia. There has, however, been no al location of seats between Fiji and Sydney and these bookings may be made from Fiji only when accommodation is not required for through passengers. The reason for these one-way seat allocations is that extra petrol must be taken on in Fiji for the long sea hop to Canton Island and two seats usually remain vacant between Nadi, Fiji, and Canton.
South Pacific Air Transport
Council Meets
rpHE first meeting of the South Pacific A Air Transport Council met in Can berra on December 17-19. It was attended by the Australian Minister for Air, Mr. Drakeford, who was elected chairman: the High Commisioner for the United Kingdom in Australia represent ing the U.K.; Mr. F. Jones, New Zealand Minister for Defence and Aviation; and Mr. J. F. Nicoll, Colonial Secretary of Fiji, representing the Colony of Fiji and the High Commissioner for the Western Pacific. There was a Canadian observer.
The Council is designed to review and promote the progress and development of civil aviation in the South Pacific and advise member governments.
The Council at its December meeting considered recommendations of its two technical committees—Committee of Air Navigation and Ground Organisation and Committee of Meteorologists—which met in New Zealand earlier in 1946 and discussed, among other things, the loca tion of the international airport in Fiji (but failed to come to an agreement) but this meeting was in the nature of
a preliminary to the larger meeting of the International Civil Aviation Organi sation which will begin in Melbourne on February 4, and which will be attended by 200 representatives and observers from 23 nations.
Extension of Qontos New Guinea
Service
nnHE Qantas air service from Sydney A to New Guinea was extended to Rabaul on January 15. Formerly the terminal airport was Lae. DC3 planes leave Sydney every Monday, Wednesday and Saturday, calls are made at Brisbane.
Rockhampton, Townsville (where passen gers stay overnight) and Cairns, and the aircraft arrives in Port Moresby and goes on to Lae on the following day.
Towards the end of 1946, four planes per week were running; this has now been discontinued. The Rabaul extension will be run only on the trip which leaves Syd ney on Wednesdays. On the other two trips the terminal point will still be Lae.
The single fare to Rabaul is £5l. Within the last two months the fares from Aus tralia to all New Guinea airports have been raised. Previously the fare to Lac from Sydney was £37 10 -. It is now over £43. The fare to Port Moresby is now £35/15, -.
The pre-war air fare. Sydney-Port Moresby was £3O; Sydney-Salamaua was £35; and Sydney-Rabaul was £35. Com parison with pre-war values and prices is, perhaps, futile. It would, however, be interesting to know why the fares to Lae and Rabaul have been increased by a much larger percentage than the fare to Port Moresby by 45 per cent, as against 16 2/3 per cent.
It is reported that Guinea Airways Limited will not recommence business in New Guinea. Mr. ‘‘Bunny’' Hammond, who held the fort there for the firm for many months in 1946. has now gone South to Australia, where it is rumoured he has joined Australian National Air ways Pty. Ltd. will be sorry to see this pioneering aviation company quit New Guinea.
Qantas have a charter for running in ternal airlines in New Guinea. At pre sent they have a Dragon machine there with headquarters in Lae. This plane is not running to regular schedules, but will accept charters.