Evening star., 1944-08-04
Pan-American Line
Plans Low Air Rate
In Mass Travel Bid
~ W. H. safPEN, Jr,.

E AFistloh 8oltoIy 1ne 6taIs
NEW YORK. Aug. Air travel
between the Americas vpuid be
brought within reach Of the average
man after the war under 4 plan
announced here today by Pan
American Airways.
Schedules proposing drastic cuts in
rates and time were to be filed today
with the Civil Aeronautics Board In
= bid for mass transportation over
an extended network OF the SYSTEMS
present routes to Latin America.
A ticket from Washington to
Buenos Aires, for example, would
cost about 1900 a compared with
the current rate Of $57l, and the
time in transit would be reduced
from 81 to "A hours. Rates as low
as 81 cents q mile on long hops
were proposed. The present rate
ranges up to three or four times
that figure.
Advanced-Type Planes.
Giant, four-engined planes Of AN
advanced design already are on
order, 1t was announced, and will be
manufactured as soon as materials
and manpower can be released from
the war effort.
Pan American proposes to put
them into service in sufhcient num-
bers to accommodate 10 times as
many passengers as ever travelled by
air and sea between the United
States and such capitals as Rio de
Janeiro.
While fares will be reduced from
time to time, 1t was said, the pro-
posed cut-rate schedule will not 20
into effect until the whole postwar
system can be organized with sum-
cient equipment, bases and feeder
lines. The fact that Pan American
has pioneered air routes to every
continent over all the oceans lends
weight to its latest proposal.
Plenty Of Competition.
The system, however, is up against
plenty of competition. Domestic air
carriers which, like Pan American,
are flying overseas routes for the
Air Transport Command have Pc
titioned the CAB for certificates to
enter the international field. In
addition, United States companies
must reckon with foreign flag lines.
Pan American has proposed ex-
tended service from New York to
Puerto Rico, branching out from
there to Rio via, Belem, and to
Buenos Aires across the South
American continent via Manaos on
the Amazon. Also from Los Angeles
through Mexico City and the Canal
Zone to Manaos, and from Charles
ton, Miami, New Orleans and Hous-
ton to the Caribbean and Central
America. j.
At a press conference here today,
Juan r. Trippe. president Of Pan
American World Always System,
said:
"The United States and all the
American republics are hoping for
a large expansion Of trade after the
war. Any substantial volume Of in
ternational trade with nations to
the south is impossible without
SwlIt ana adequate transportation.
Progress Retarded.
Pan American before the war
had extended air service to every
capital and important trade center
in Latin America. Four years of
world war have naturally retarded
our progress. Only a skeleton serv-
ice is now available.
I'VE propose to move boldly ahead
In the postwar period, however, and
to provide mass transportation for
the businessman and tourist at low
rates unique in air transportation.
I'VE are confident that both trade
and travel volume will come If we
provide comprehensive air service
within the reach of every business,
both large and small, and within
the means Of the average man and
UyOn,ano