Rearrangement of

P-Ng

Air Services

SANDRINGHAM aircraft have been withdrawn from Papua- New Guinea by Qantas Empire Airways. They will be replaced within the Territory by Catalinas; and an extra Skymaster, once fort nightly, on the Sydney-Moresby ser vice will replace the Sandringham which formerly left Sydney on Sundays.

Sandringhams began operating in P-NG —r epla c i n g Catalinas —in mid-1952. At that time Qantas stated that they were “anxious to give outport residents the benefit of improved flying facilities.” The Sandringhams meant more passeng ers, more comfort and more cargo.

Outport residents appreciated the Sandringham services, where they flew in civilised comfort —and no one is pretending at the present time that they are going to enjoy retrogressing to the Catalinas. How ever, most of the customers will probably concede that the large Sandringhams are not the ideal aircraft for the sort of milk-run service they were called to perform in the Territory.

A Qantas official said in Sydney on ‘February 4, that he did not know what the company intended to do with the Sandringhams that were being withdrawn—but they were still being used on the Sydney- Noumea-Hebrides-Suva service (this service is due for conversion to landplanes in mid-1955). He said that the withdrawal of Sandring hams from P-NG was just a matter of economics—they cost too much to operate. The Catalinas, which could carry 28 natives, were more economic. He did not know whether the Catalinas to be used in P-NG would be converted to provide full cabin service, with regular aircraft seats, etc.; or whether they would just provide the minimum high density type of accommodation.

If Mr. Shankar Pratap, Suva busi ness man, paid a business visit to Sydney and Hongkong in January- February.