§ Captain Pluggeasked the Postmaster-General what has been the average transit time for mails sent from London to New York each week since 1st January by the air-mail service, and vice versa; and whether the accumulation of such air mail at Lisbon and elsewhere has now been cleared up?
§ Captain WaterhouseThe Pan-American air service from Lisbon to New York is scheduled to operate twice each week, but I understand that owing to unfavourable weather conditions only seven flights were made during the period from 1st January to 8th February and that there have been intervals between flights of as much as 12 days. Consequently the times of transmission between London and New York have varied within wide limits, but the average time of transmission of correspondence conveyed by the flights actually made, excluding time occupied in collection and delivery, was about 14 days; the average in the reverse direction was about 12 days. I am informed that no westward flight from Lisbon has been possible since 8th February, but I am assured that mails which have accumulated at Lisbon in the meantime will be cleared as rapidly as possible when flights are resumed.