Air Services
pp. 79-84 · Read in the full issue
Summary of Pacific Air
Services
PAPUA AND NEW GUlNEA.—Regular Qantas service from Sydney.
SOLOMON ISLANDS.—Frequent regular flying boat service from Sydney bv Trans Oceanic Airways. Qantas service also from Lae, NG, to Honiara, BSI.
NEW HEBRlDES—Frequent regular flying-boat service from Sydney by Trans Oceanic Air ways. Service from Noumea by French plane runs twice weekly. Qantas plane from Sydney to NH on alternate Tuesdays.
NORFOLK ISLAND.—Regular service from NZ by NZ National Airways; from Sydney by Qantas; from Fiji by NZ National Airways.
LORD HOWE ISLAND—Regular weekly service from Sydney by Qantas and Trans Oceanic Airways.
FlJl. —Regular services from Australia by Pan American, BCPA and CPA (to Nadi); Auck land by NZ National Airways (to Nadi); from Australia by Qantas (to Laucala Bay, Suva); from Auckland by NZ National Airways (to Laucala Bay, Suva). Irregular calls from Australia to Laucala Bay, Suva, by Trans
Oceanic Airways. Regular service from Suva to Labasa by NZ National Airways,
Western Samoa, Cook Islands And
TONGA.—Regular service from Fiji by NZ National Airways.
TAHlTl.—Monthly service from Noumea by TRAPAS plane via Fiji, W. Samoa, Cook Is.
DU'T’CH NEW GUINEA. —Regular weekly service fi-om Batavia by KLM.
AUSTRALIA-NEW ZEALAND.—ReguIar service by Tasman Empire Airways.
AUSTRALIA-NORTH AMERICA.—Regular Trans pacific services by Pan American Airways,
Bcpa And Cpa.
Europe - Indo-China -N. Caledonla.—Fort
nightly service by Air France.
NZ National Airways
South Pacific Services
THE Pacific services run by the New Zealand National Airways Corporation are as follows: —
Auckland-Laucala Bay (Suva): A “Sun
derland” flying-boat leaves Mechanics Bay.
Auckland, at 11.30 p.m. each Monday for Laucala Bay, Suva (arrives 8.10 a.m. the follow ing day).
The aircraft departs from Laucala Bay, Suva, on the return journey at 7.30 p.m. each Sunday, and arrives at Mechanics Bay, Auckland, at 4.15 p.m. the following day.
Laucala Bay (Suva)-Labasa (Vanua
LEVU): A “Sunderland” flying-boat operates this service on a charter basis. A return trip is made between Laucala Bay and Labasa each Tuesday.
Auckland-Norfolk Island-Fiji-Tonga
Western Samoa-Cook Islands: A “Douglas”
airliner leaves Whenuapai, Auckland. on Tuesdays at 9 a.m. (November 8. 15, 23, etc.), for Norfolk Island (arr. 12.55 p.m.; dep. 2 p.m.), Nadi (arr. 8.40 p.m., dep. 5.40 a.m.
Thursday), Nausori (arr. 6.25 a.m., dep. 7.30 a.m.), Tonga (arr. 10.50 a.m., dep. 11.50 a.m.), *Faleolo, Western Samoa (arr. 4.5 p.m. Wednes day, dep. 8 a.m. Thursday), Aitutaki, Cook Islands (arr. 1.50 p.m. Thursday, dep. 2.50 p.m.), Rarotonga, Cook Is. (arr. 4.5 p.m,).
The aircraft departs from Rarotonga on the return journey at 8 a.m. on Saturdays (November 12, 19, 26, etc.), at 8 a.m., for Aitutaki (arr. 9.15 a.m., dep. 10 a.m.), Faleolo, W. Samoa (arr. 3.35 p.m., dep. 8 a.m.
Sunday), *Tonga (arr. 10.55 a.m. Monday; dep. 11.50 am.), Nausori (arr. 2.40 p.m., dep. 3.40 p.m.), Nadi (arr. 4.25 p.m., dep. 5 a.m. Tues day), Norfolk Is. (arr, 10.55 a.m., dep. 12 noon), Whenuapai, Auckland (arr. 4.50 p.m.). •Crosses International Date Line.
Auckland-Norfolk Island: A “Douglas”
airliner leaves Whenuapai, Auckland, every Sun day at 8.15 a.m. for Norfolk Island (arr. 12.15 p.m.), and departs on the return flight at 1.15 p.m., arriving at Whenuapai at 6 p.m.
FARES, single (in NZ currency); Auckland to Norfolk, £l2/10/-; to Fiji, £3l; to Tonga, £3l; to Samoa, £34; to Altutakl, £39; to Raro tonga, £39/10/-. Norfolk to FIJI, £l9. Fiji to Tonga, £B/15/-; to Samoa, £l3; to Altutakl, £29/15/-; to Rarotonga, £3l. Samoa to Raro tonga, £l7/15/-; to Altutakl, £l6/10/-; Suva to Labasa, £4/10/-. Return fares, less 10 per cent.
BOOKING OFFICES: Wellington, Govt. Life Bldg., Customhouse Quay; Auckland, Airways House, Customs St.; Dunedin, 8-10 Manse St.; Christchurch, 104 Gloucester St.; Gis borne, 74 Peel St.; Palmerston North, 107 Broadway Ave.; Hamilton, 8 Alma St.; Fenton St.; New Plymouth, Grand Central Building, Egmont St.; Hokitika, Southside Air port; Norfolk Is., Burns Philp, Ltd.; Fiji, NAC at Nadi and Suva; Burns Philp, Labasa and Lautoka; Tonga, Mrs. P. P. Melhose, Fou-amotu Airfield: W. Samoa, Burns Philp (SS), Ltd., Apia; Cook Is., Mrs. P. McVeagh, Aitutaki, and Mr. J. D. Campbell, Rarotonga.
Sydney—Queensland—
New Guinea
QANTAS Empire Airways, Ltd., employing DCS planes, operate a regular service between Sydney, Port Moresby, Lae, Finschhafen, Madang, Rabaul, Bulolo and Wau, and return via Brisbane, Rockhampton, Townsville and Cairns.
This service is now known as the “Bird of Paradise” Service. DCS aircraft, carrying 19 passengers, are usea.
Planes leave Sydney on Mondays, Tuesdays, Wednesdays, Fridays and Saturdays at 9 a.m., and arrive at Lae at 1 p.m. on Tuesdays, Wed nesdays, Thursdays, Saturdays and Sundays.
The plane which leaves Sydney on Wednesday and arrives at Lae on Thursday then goes on to Rabaul. It returns on Friday. The plane, which arrives at Lae on Tuesdays, then goes on to Madang, returning to Lae the same day.
The plane, which arrives at Lae at 1 p.m. on Wednesdays, flies on to Bulolo and Wau on Wednesday afternoons, and returns to Lae.
Planes leave Lae at 5.45 a.m. on Wednesdays, Thursdays, Saturdays, Sundays and Mon days, and arrive in Sydney at 10.15 p.m., accom plishing the Lae-Sydney run in a day.
The return plane from Rabaul leaves at 1.30 p.m. on Fridays.
Bookings may be made at Qantas offices at any of the towns named. At present, berths are available only to passengers holding official per mits to visit Papua or New Guinea.
Qantas Subsidiary Services In
Papua-New Guinea-Solomons
Qantas Empire Airways run the following sub sidiary services in Papua, New Guinea, and British Solomons:— A Douglas DCS leaves Lae, New Guinea, every Wednesday, and flies to Rabaul, and Kavieng, and returns to Lae; but every alternate Wed nesday the plane goes on from Kavieng to Manus, and returns via Kavieng to Rabaul (overnight) and returns to Lae on the Thursday morning.
Every alternate Monday, a Qantas Catalina flies from Port Moresby, westward to Daru, via Yule Island, Kerema, Kikori, Lake Kutubu and Lake Murray, remaining overnight at Kikori and returning to PM next morning.
Every alternate Wednesday, a Qantas Cata lina flies from Port Moresby, eastward to Samarai, via Abau and Milne Bay; remains overnight at Samarai, and on the following day (Thursday) flies out over the archipelagoes, calls at Esa’ala, Kiriwina, Woodlark and Deboyne Lagoon, and return to PM, via Samarai, Milne Bay and Abau.
Every alternate Monday, a Qantas Catalina leaves Port Moresby for Rabaul, via Moewe Har bour, and Talasea (New Britain); next morning (Tuesday) it flies to Buka, Kieta and Buin (Bougainville) and returns to Rabaul; next morning (Wednesday) it flies to Talasea, Moewe Harbour and Jacqulnot Bay, and returns to Rabaul; and next morning (Thursday) it re turns from Rabaul direct to Port Moresby.
Every alternate Monday a Qantas Douglas flies from Lae to Rabaul, and continues on to Honiara (British Solomon Islands), via Torokina; remains overnight at Honiara; and returns to
Lae the following day (Tuesday), via Torokina and Rabaul.
Sydney-Noumea-Suva
THE following Is the time-table of the Qantas flying-boat:— Sydney dep. 9 p.m. alt. Tue».
Noumea arr. 7 a.m. alt. Wed.
Noumea dep. 8 a.m. alt. Wed.
Suva arr. 3 p.m. alt. Wed.
Suva dep. 6 a.m. alt. Prid.
Noum-a arr. 11 a.m. alt. Prid.
Noumea dep. 12 noon alt. Prid.
Sydney arr. 8 p.m. alt. Prid.
Intending passengers may book through Qap*a.s offices in Australia. Burns, Phllp (South Sea«) Company, in Suva; and T. Johnston In Noumea.
Fares: To Noumea, £35 single; £63 return.
To Suva, £52/10/- single; £94/10/- return.
Noumea-Suva, £l7/10/- single; £3l/10/- re turn.
Sydney-Lord Howe ls.-
Norfolk Is.
Q ANT AS, Sydney, run a Catalina once weekly from Sydney to Lord Howe Island. Pare, single, £l2. Return, £2l/12/-.
Qantas run a DC4 Skymaster alt. Thursdays (returning same day) from Sydney to Norfolk Island. Pare, £22 single; £39/12/- return. (For Norfolk Island, see also under NZ National Airways. For Lord Howe, see also under TOA.)
Sydney-New Hebrides
A QANTAS plane leaves Sydney for New Hebrides on alternate Tuesdays. It flies via Noumea and Port Vila to Santo, and returns.
CPA Sydney-Vancouver
Service
C CANADIAN Pacific Airlines, Ltd., run a trans ■ 4 Pacific service between Sydney and Van couver. For the present there will be one northbound and one southbound trip per fort night. Stops are made at Nadi (Fiji), Canton Island, Honolulu and San Francisco. The north bound flight commences from Sydney every alter nate Tuesday.
Four-engined, pressurised "Canadair” aircraft are used; 36 passengers can be carried and a crew of six. Flying is done in daylight. Over night accommodation is provided at hotels in Nadi and Honolulu, which Is, of course, com plimentary.
Fares are (in Australian currency): Sydney- Vancouver, £305/17/- single, £550 return; Fiji- Vancouver, £227/5/- single, £4OB/10/- return; Sydney-Fiji, £54/19/- single, £96/17/- return; Sydney-Honolulu, £238/8/-; Sydney-San Fran cisco, £285/15/-.
Bookings may be made at the Union Steam Ship Company of New Zealand, Limited, Sydney, or Melbourne; Union Steam Ship Co. of NZ, Ltd., Fiji; Canadian Pacific Airlines, Vancouver.
Sydney-Vancouver
BCPA Service
BRITISH Commonwealth Pacific Airlines, Ltd., operate a twice weekly trans-Pacific service from Sydney to Vancouver, via Fiji, Canton Island, Honolulu and San Francisco; and a weekly service between Auckland and Vancouver, via the same ports.
Planes leave Sydney every Wednesday and Saturday, and Vancouver on the Southbound trip every Monday and Thursday. Every fourth trip from Sydney terminates at San Francisco instead of Vancouver.
Planes leave Auckland every Tuesday and arrive in Vancouver the following Wednesday.
The Southbound trip to Auckland commences from Vancouver every alternate Friday. Every other Friday the service commences at San Francisco.
B.C.P.A. services make regular connections at both San Francisco and Vancouver for onward carriage, via either New York or Montreal to the United Kingdom or Europe. The through fare from Sydney to London is £325 (Aust.).
Fares are (in Australian currency): Sydney- San Francisco, £285/15/- single and £514/6/return; Auckland-Vancouver, £283/1/- single; Auckland-Nadl (Fiji), £3B/17/-; Sydney-Nadi, £54/19/-; Sydney-Vancouver, £305/17/- single, £550 return.
Douglas DC6 aircraft carrying 48 passengers (seated) or 37 passengers (in sleepers) and a crew of nine are used on the service.
Pan-American—
Trans-Pacific Service
PAN-AMERICAN World Airways clippers now provide the following services in the South Pacific, using DC4 planes, equipped with Sleep erettes;— Planes leave Sydney Monday and Friday for San Francisco, via Tontouta (New Cale donia), Nadi (Fiji), Canton Island and Hono lulu.
The return flights are made from San Francisco every Thursday, via Honolulu, Canton Island.
Nadi and Tontouta; and from Seattle every Monday, via Portland, Honolulu, Canton Island, Nadi and Tontouta.
Planes leave Auckland every Wednesday, and fly via Nadi, Canton Island and Honolulu to San Francisco. They leave San Francisco for Auckland every Saturday by the same route.
Pares, in Australian currency, are:— £ s. d. £ s. d.
Single. Return.
Sydney-Seattle .. .. £285 15 0 £514 6 0 Sydney-’Prisco ... 285 15 0 514 6 0 Sydney-Fiji 54 19 0 98 17 0 Sydney-Honolulu ... 238 8 0 429 0 0 Auckland-Seattle . .. 262 19 0 473 14 0 Auckland-Honolulu .. 215 13 0 387 19 0 Auckland-Pijl 38 17 0 69 19 0 Auckland-San. Fran. . 207 3 0 372 16 0 (Time-tables and fares subject to alteration without notice.) To convert to Fiji currency, reduce above each kilogram of excess.
Free baggage allowance is 30 kilos per person.
Excess baggage at 1 per cent, of single fare for figures by about 10 per cent.
Trans-Tasman Service
Sydney—Auckland
TASMAN Empire Airways, Ltd., operate a flying-boat service between Rose Bay.
Sydney, and Mechanics Bay, Auckland. Large flying-boats, capable of carrying 30 passengers, are employed. The trip is comfortable, and takes approximately 8 hours.
Flying-boats now depart Sydney and Auckland dally.
This service will be supplemented by Charter Services operated by DC4 and DC6 aircraft.
Pares: £35 (A) (£2B NZ currency) single; £63 (A) (£5O/8/- NZ currency) return.
Bookings may be made at Tasman Empire Airways In Auckland and at Qantas Empire Air ways, Carrington Street. Sydney.
New Caledonia-
New Hebrides
TRAPAS (French Air Line) operates a service between Noumea and the New Hebrides.
The plane leaves Noumea every Tuesday, and flies direct to Vila and Santo, and returns. Re turn fare for the journey, Noumea-Santo, is approximately £42 Australian.
N. Caledonia—Tahiti
TRAPAS (Soclete Francals de Transports Aeriens du Pacific Sud-Noumea) runs a monthly service from New Caledonia to Tahiti.
Departing at 8 a.m. from Noumea, every third Thursday, the plane flies via Fiji (Nadi), Western Samoa (Paleolo), Cook Islands (Aitu taki) to Papeete, where it arrives at about 11.40 a.m. two days later. One evening Is spent in Nadi and one night in Aitutakl. The plane re turns by the same route in the following week.
Fare from Noumea to Papeete is 16,000 Pacific francs single, and 28,800 return. (160 Pacific francs equal £1 Australian.) While the plane is at Papeete it runs one round trip between Papeete and Bora Bora.
KLM Dutch New Guinea
Service
K.L.M. Royal Dutch Airlines run a regular weekly service from Batavia to Dutch New Guinea, via Sourabaya, Makassar and Ambon, on the following schedule: Batavia dep. Sundays at 10.30 a.m., Biak Island arr. Mondays at 4.40 p.m.; dep. Tuesdays at 6 a.m., Hollandia arr. Tuesdays at 8.10 a.m. On the return journey the aircraft leaves Hollandia at 9 a.m. on Tuesdays; Biak Island arr. 11.10 a.m.. dep. 12.15 p.m. on Tuesdays; and Batavia arr. 6 p.m. on Wednesdays.
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The aircraft used are C. 475, a type of DC-3, and the single fares are Batavia-Biak Island £A80; Batavia-Hollandia £A9I/15/-; and Biak Island-Hollandia £AII/15/-. Return fares, double single.
TOA Services
TRANS Oceanic Airways run the following Pacific services;— SYDNEY-LORD HOWE IS.: A regular fort nightly service with large four-engine flying
boats from Rose Bay. Pare: £ll single; £2l return. Free baggage allowance 50 lb. Excess baggage and freight rate 6d. per lb.
SYDNEY-NEW HEBRIDES: A regular monthly service with large four-engine flying-boats from Sydney, via Noumea (overnight stop), to Vila and Espiritu Santo. Pare; Sydney-Vila, £45; Sydney-Santo, £5O; Noumea-Vila, £l2/10/-; Noumea-Santo, £lB/15/-. Freight: Sydney-Vila, 2/- per lb.; Sydney-Santo, 2/3.
Sydney-Solomon Islands; A Regular
monthly service from Sydney, via New Cale
donia and New Hebrides to Tulagi, Solomon Islands. This service is frequently extended to Lingatou, in the Russell Islands, and calls are sometimes made at Vanikoro, in the Santa Cruz Group. Fares: Sydney-Tulagi, £65. Free bag gage allowance, 60 lb.; excess baggage and freight, 3/- per lb.
France—l ndo-China-
N. Caledonia
THE French national airways, Air France, runs a fortnightly service between Paris and New Caledonia, and return. Stops are made at Rome (forward journey.) or Marseilles (re turn journey) Cairo, Bazra, Karachi, Calcutta, Saigon, Batavia, Darwin, Brisbane.
DC4 Skymasters are used in the service.
Fare between Brisbane and Tontouta (New Caledonia) has been fixed, for the present, at £2B/19/- (Australian).
Papua-NG Local
Services
MANDATED Airlines, Ltd., of Lae, New Guinea, and other private operators, run air ser vices between Lae and the New Guinea mainland centres of Wau, Bulolo, Madang, Wewak, Altape, Mt. Hagen, Plnschhafen, Moresby, Kokoda —in fact anywhere in Papua or New Guinea where there is an air-strip. These planes carry pas sengers, malls and cargo on regular schedules or charter flights.
Guinea Air Traders Ltd., of Lae, New Guinea, employ six aircraft on local services, and on charter work. .
Under arrangement with the Administration, a Qantas plane, carrying Administration personnel and cargo, and mails, flies once each, week from Lae to Rabaul, Kavleng and Manus, and returns to Lae by the same route.
Dr. and Mrs. G. R. Hemming and their three children, who have been holidaying in Brisbane, returned recently to their
home in Suva, Fiji.