New Sydney-Moresby

Service In February TOA Introduces A New Solent Flying-Boat

Trans oceanic airways ltd., of Sydney, proposes to commence its new Sydney-Port Moresby flying boat service in February, with a Solent.

TOA had completed arrangements to start this service in November, with a Hythe, when officialdom announced that Townsville could not be used as an inter mediate port. It was found that no other North Queensland port was suitable or adaptable: and the Hythe could not carry, from Brisbane, enough fuel for the flight to Moresby, plus a payload. The Hythe plan therefore was abandoned.

Captain Brian Monkton, managing director of TOA, thereupon flew to England, and there bought, new, one of the Short Brothers Solents, which is the world’s most modern flying-boat. It will make the Brisbane-Moresby hop without difficulty. Mr. Monkton proposes to leave London with the Solent on January 26, and the machine should leave Sydney for Port Moresby, on the inaugural flight, on Feb. 18. The proposed weekly schedule is: Sunday, 7.15 p.m.—Depart Rose Bay, Sydney. 10 p.m.—Arrive Brisbane. 11.30 p.m.—Depart Brisbane.

Monday, 6.30 a.m,—Arrive Moresby. 8.30 a.m. —Depart Moresby. 3.30 p.m.—Arrive Brisbane. 4.45 p.m.—Depart Brisbane. 7.30 p.m.—Arrive Sydney.

This type of Solent carries a crew of seven, and has accommodation for 39 passengers—five less that the number carried by the Solents in the Tasman Empire Airways Sydney-New Zealand run.

Passengers are carried in five cabins, and passenger amenities are lavish.

To provide for bookings beyond Moresby, TOA have entered into an arrangement with Mandated Airlines Ltd, of Lae, New Ouinea (which runs inter-Territory services within Papua-New Guinea) under which TOA passengers can be picked up n Moresby and taken on to other parts )f the Territories.

The development appears to indicate :hat Qantas Empire Airways—which have iroyided Papua-New Guinea with its najor services for some years—will now lave active competition. There is no suggestion of rate-cutting, however irobably Canberra will not permit that.

New Hebrides And L. Howe

Services

[I7TTH a small fleet of flying-boats, TOA ft began running services between Sydney and the Pacific Islands some bur years ago; and it finally settled down vith a regular service up through the New lebrides to the Solomons; and another egular service to Lord Howe Island.

It then pioneered a NSW coastal service )etween Sydney and Grafton; and, in 950, it started a weekly Sydney-Hobart ervice, via the NSW south coast. Both he latter services have prospered—and he Hobart service has been doubled.

TOA clashed with Qantas in the Lord lowe and the Hebrides-Solomons run. rhere were some adjustments late in 1950, inder which TOA abandoned the Heb ides-Solomons run to Qantas, and Jantas withdrew from Lord Howe.

The situation now is that TOA will arry on the Sydney-Lord Howe, Sydney lobart and Sydney-Grafton services with out competition, and the Sydney-Moresby un in competition with Qantas. The new Jolent will be used on the Moresby run Sundays and Mondays) and on the lobart run (two return flights each week -one on Wednesday and one on Friday).