§ 56. Sir HARRY BRITTAINasked the Secretary of State for Air whether he can make any statement as to when the regular air route to India will open for general traffic?
§ The SECRETARY of STATE for AIR (Sir Samuel Hoare)The first of the through flights from Cairo to Karachi is scheduled for 6th April next.
§ Sir H. BRITTAINMay I ask what number of planes it is expected to put on this service; and, at the same time, may I venture to congratulate my right hon. Friend on having so successfully "blazed the trail"?
§ Sir S. HOAREI am much obliged to my hon. Friend for his congratulations. I can assure him that they are not due to myself so much as to the pilots and navigators who took me so safely. In answer to his supplementary question, the machines will be of the same type as that on which I made my recent flight to India.
§ Lieut. - Commander KENWORTHYWhen does the right hon. Gentleman propose to link up the European Air Service with this route from Cairo to India?
§ Sir S. HOAREI am most anxious to see the section between Europe and the East fully completed. I cannot say when we shall be able to do it, but we are constantly considering the question. I regard it as most important that we should make that section as soon as possible.
§ Sir F. WISECan my right hon. Friend sax what the cost of the flight has been?
§ Sir S. HOARENo, Sir, I could not say off-hand; but I can assure my hon. Friend that it will not amount to any considerable sum, and he will be surprised at the smallness of the figure.