Evening star., 1947-09-14

vented an expert in one field from
lending hand in another when his
duties permitted. Thus, unthink-
able as it might have seemed few
months ago, operations agents may
help to unload planes, or ramp en-
ployes report inside during slack
periods to answer telephones in the
ticket offices.
Maintenance work has been con-
solidated in the hangers at National
Airport, although the largest savings
have been effected in the sales solic-
itation, ticketing and reservations
departments. Streamlined proce-
dures, for example, enable a reserva-
tons staff reduced by 40 per cent to
give prospective passengers prompt
er and more accurate information.
Sales Force Trimmed
Another saving was made through
elimination of sales force of sew
eral hundred street men, who
called on executives, in favor OF an
advertising program designed to
reach broader class of customers.
Too, Capital is participating in a
growing move for joint or commu-
nifty ground services at airports be-
tween airlines in direct competition
locally.
Capital has taken over ticketing,
servicing and other ground func-
tions for American Airlines at Erie,
Pa, while American reciprocates at
Elmira, Ny.
American has worked out similar
agreements with Continental.
Colonial, Trans Canada and North
west. The cooperative move has
grown swiftly in recent months
under impetus of the economy wave.
and appears to be working out well,
the operators say,
These economies, plus frightened
procedures and elimination of paper
work wherever possible were re-
f1ected in Americans last financial
statement which showed a net OF
some $786,O0O in the second quarter
as compared with a loss OF over
$4,000, 900 in the first quarter.
Trans World Airlines is another
which is moving out Of the red SIDE
of the ledger as result OF heroic
measures. In Washington, for ex-
ample, the airline gave up an option
on a new office building at Eight
eenth and M streets NV, put up
for sale costly town house In Ar
lington County, Va, which was to
have been used by former presi-
dent of the line, and began to con-
solidate many administrative func-
tions at Kansas City and New Castle,
Del.
The company netted some S2Oo'0co
for the last quarter after series
of reverses which began with the
temporary grounding OF the Con-
stellations and continued through
reorganization of both domestic ana
international divisions.
Eastern Hits Slump
Even Eastern Air Lines, long
profit Garner with policy OF econ
omy extending back through the war
wears. has felt more than seasonal
slump in its Florida traffic in the
last few months.
This may be due in part to the
fact that many more seats are
available this year than last, al
though the slump came close on the
heels of the three disastrous air
crashes late last Spring-one OF
which befell an Eastern transport.
Another reason for the slump, ac-
cording to Eastern officials, is GER
tification by the Civil Aeronautlcs
Board of too many competing lines
on routes which are failing to pro-
vide enough traffic for all OF them.
Meanwhile. the economy MINDED
airlines are watching the result OF
cooperative service test being run
at Cincinnati and Willow Run, near
Detroit. where all ground services
are handled by single organlza-
tion-reservations, ticketing. nam
ding of luggage. ground transporta-
ton, servicing of airplanes and the
like. If successful, the pool idea
undoubtedly will be extended in the
near future.
Real Economy
No matter how they trim and cut.
however. the big operators Will never
reach the ultimate in economy
achieved by a Texas feeder line
using the old standby, the Douglas
DEB.
J One man with a hat and several
cans is the whole ground staff at
smaller airports. He wears the hat
when he has time to call on the
trade downtown, but out at the
airport he wears headphones while
taking reservations, a starters cap
while waving airplanes of and onto
the ramp and a mechanics head
piece when he helps with the serV-
icing.
There is no downtown ticket o.
f1ce or surface transportation. Pas
sengers carry their own luggage
when planes taxi up and cut one
motor on their side. The lone man
on the ground opens the rear ooor.
nustles the passengers up the steps
and closes the door again. Then
he steps forward in his starters cap
tsalutes the pilots and waves them
off before running back to the oft1ce
tn answer the telephones and make
~. ,,av+ naSSenper list,