The Daily Alaska empire. [volume] (Juneau, Alaska) 1926-1964, 1945-10-31
pAA Argument
is Presented at
CAB Hearing
Oriental Line Operated In
dependentIy from
Alaskan Line

/, WASHINGTON. Oct. 31-A Pan
: American Always representative
contended that on the basis OF
past traffic records, there is no
: justification for competitive air
service in the Pacific.
This argument was made before a
Civil Aeronautics Board hearing yes
terday on applications to establish
North Pacific service in addition
to the Central and South Pacific
routes now flown by Pan Ameri-
can Board examiners have recon-
mended that the Northern route
be awarded to Northwestern Air.
lines.
Surface traffic to and from the
Orient in l6-year period was $4,000
passengers, compared with 10000
across the Atlantic, Henry j. Friend
ly, Pan American attorney, told the
Board
TIE Beard, he declared, is not
bound in any way to follow its de-
cision to create competition in the
Atlantic. A single American flag
air carrier to the Orient, he said,
would not have nearly as much
traffic as any one of the three certi-
fled for service in the Atlantic area.
But, if the policy is to be one OF
competition" Friendly added, then
Pan American seeks the opportun-
ity to compete over the Northern
route"
Besides, he declared, the Northern
route is the one which Pan Ameri-
can always wanted and which 1t
pioneered as many as ID years ago
with the aid of Lindbergh and
Stefannson, acquiring two Alaskan
airlines in order to gain the oper-
ating know-how.
He told the Board that Pan Amer
lean would operate the Oriental SER
vice entirely independent from its
Alaskan line
The Examiners recommendation
of Alaskan airlines to fly from An
chorage to Seattle, he declared, must
have been due to desire to pla-
cate demands that what is called
an Alaskan air carrier should be
extended to the United States. Do
nestle carriers, he insisted, can do
the Job better and at less cost.
Pea Wants Route
On a contention that Pennsyl-
vania Central Airlines Corporation
serves major number of cities
interested in Oriental trade. the
Civil Aeronautics Board was asked
to assign it the North Pacific air
route.
Pea would operate from Wash
ington through Chicago, across Can
ada to an Alaskan city, then along
the Aleutian Islands to various
points in the Far East.
Pea claims to serve, on its do
nestle routes, all but % of the 33l
cities which are headquarters for
firms serving the Far East.
Fly Nom Stop
Commissioner Ryan suggested The
possibility of permitting Pan AM
erican Airlinss TO lily nonstop 20
Manila or some designated Far East
ern point by way of the northern
route He recalled that permission
has been given domestic lines TO
operate nonstop, by the most direct
route, regardless of local schedules.
Morris agreed that such an ap-
plication to overseas transport
might be desirable under the doc
trine of preservation of the natural
advantages of airplane travel
No Mystery Now
Morris discounted the experience
factor in claims Of other companies
to the North Pacific route. The
boards examiners recommended
Transcontinental and Western Air
for the route because of its war
time experience in flying it.
There is no mystery about over
seas flying" Morris declared, the
woods are full of navigators who can
do The job"
Pea personnel is competent and,
"for weeks" its personnel was en-
gagged in flying supplies to Alaska
and the Aleutians. The advantage
OF experience claimed by other lines,
he said. would disappear in three
months He added that Pea has
recently acquired Is DC planes and
could begin service QUICKLY.