§ 40. Sir R. THOMASasked the Secretary of State for Air how many regular aerial passenger services are now in operation wholly or principally within the British Empire or wholly or principally British-owned in other countries; and on what routes do they operate in both cases?
§ The UNDER-SECRETARY of STATE for AIR (Sir Philip Sassoon)As the answer is in tabular form I will, with the hon. Member's permission, circulate it in the OFFICIAL REPORT.
§ Following is the answer:
§ There are 15 British-owned passenger air services in regular operation upon the following routes:—
§ Europe.
- London—Paris.
- London—Paris—Basle—Zurich.
- London—Brussels—Cologne.
- London—Ostend.
- London—Le Touquet.
- Southampton—Guernsey.
§ Australia.
- Perth—Derby.
- Charleville—Camooweal.
- Cloncurry—Normanton.
- Adelaide—Cootamundra.
- Broken Hill—Mildura.
- Melbourne—Hay.
§ Canada.
- Sioux Lookout—Red Lake.
- Haileybury—Rouyn Gold Fields.
§ Middle East.
- Cairo—Basra.
§ 41. Lieut.-Commander KENWORTHYasked the Secretary of State for Air whether permission has now been received from the Persian Government for British aeroplanes to fly over Persian territory between Cairo and Karachi; whether the Cairo to Baghdad route is in operation; how often the aeroplanes fly; how many flights have been made since the route commenced; and what number of passengers and weight of mails has been carried?
§ Sir P. SASSOONAs the answer is somewhat long and contains a number of figures, I will, with the hon. and gallant Member's permission, circulate it in the OFFICIAL REPORT.
§ Lieut.-Commander KENWORTHYCould the hon. Gentleman reply to the first part of the question, as to whether permission has yet been received?
§ Sir P. SASSOONThe answer is in the negative.
§ Following is the answer:
§ The answer to the first part of the question is in the negative. As regards the second, third and fourth parts of the question, a regular fortnightly service in each direction between Cairo and Basrah, via Baghdad, came in operation on 27th December, 1926, and on 13th April last was augmented to a regular weekly service in each direction. The total number of flights performed since the inauguration of the service has been 46, all of which have been completed regularly to schedule. As regards the last part of the question, I am informed that the number of passengers and weight of mails carried on the stages in which the route is organised by Imperial 1446 Airways was as follows, to the 30th June last:—
| Passengers. | Mails. | ||
| lbs. | |||
| Cairo—Gaza | … | 57 | 518 |
| Gaza—Baghdad | … | 44 | 6,110 |
| Baghbad—Basra | … | 71 | 1,461 |
| Basra—Baghdad | … | 95 | 1,651 |
| Baghdad—Gaza | … | 74 | 6,268 |
| Gaza—Cairo | … | 70 | 5,987 |