Service
p. 18 · Read in the full issue
New French Air
Between Noumea and Tahiti
A REGULAR air service between Noumea (New Caledonia) and Papeete (Tahiti) has been in augurated with a Catalina plane owned by the Societe Prancaise de Transnorts Aeriens du Pacifique Sud (in English, The French South Pacific Air Transport Co).
It is intended that the plane, en route between Noumea and Papeete, shall call as required at intervening groups such as New Hebrides, Fiji, Samoa, Tonga and Cook Islands.
On its inaugural flight, on October 31, when between Suva and Papeete, the plane received a call from Rarotonga to look for the schooner “Tahitienne,” which was overdue at Rarotonga. The French men altered their course and soon after wards located the “Tahitienne.”
On the return flight the plane left Papeete on November 4 and, en route to Noumea, made calls at Aitutaki (Cook Islands) and Nadi (Fiji).
It is intended that this shall be a regular monthly service, but if sufficient support is forthcoming it will run more frequently. The fare between Papeete and Noumea is 16,000 francs (£lOO Aus tralian) .
The inauguration of this new mail ser vice gave the philatelist a chance. Stamps on a special letter cover were sold in Noumea, where they were specially marked.