Clipper, Vol. 2, No. 14, October 1945

              PAM AMERICAN
LATIN AMERICAN DIVISION
VOL. 2—NO. 14	451015	Copyright, 19^5, by Pan American Airways, Inc.
OCTOBER, 1945
CONTROL OF AVIANCA GIVEN TO COLOMBIANS
Nationalization of Aerovias Nacionales de Colombia (Avianca), the oldest airline in the western hemisphere, has been completed with authorization by Pan American World Airways of the sale of its portion of a new Avianca stock issue to Colombian interests.
Transfer of control in the airline came when Pan American relinquished its right to 64,000 shares of the 100,000 shares issued by the Board of Directors of Avianca to be purchased by for-m e r stockholders.
By waiving its option on this new issue of stock, Pan American, though still the biggest single stockholder, reduced its interest in Avianca from 64% to 48%, and placed the controlling majority of the company’s stock in the hands of the Colombian people.
This process of placing under Colombian control the operations of the local airline was begun in 1940, when Scadta, owned and controlled by German interests, was dissolved and Avianca, formed. Since then Avianca has been an integral part of the extensive Pan American network in South America. Martin del Corral is president of Avianca.
This transaction is in accordance with Pan American’s program of turning over the control and management of the local services into the hands of the nationals of the countries in which the facilities are located as soon as the company is assured that the same excellent and meticulous efficiency will be maintained. Pan American has also in recent months undertaken the nationalization of Panair do Brasil and Cia. Mexicana de Aviacion. As a result, these companies have their management and direction vested in the hands of nationals of the respective countries and Continued on Page 5
FLIGHTS BETWEEN HAVANA AND MIAMI DOUBLED
Anticipating a heavy flow of tourist traffic in the immediate future, Pan American World Airways has doubled its daily flights between Miami and Havana, bringing the total to 14 a day.
Six new flights are added between the two aerial gateways and will result in almost around-the-clock service. Two of the flights consist of making permanent a night service previously operated on a trial basis.
The new flight schedules are:
Miami to Havana: 6:45 a.m.; 8:30 a.m.;
1	p.m.; 4 p.m.; 5:30 p.m., and 7:30 p.m. Havana to Miami: 7:35 a.m.; 9:30 a.m.;
2	p.m.; 4 p.m.; 6:30 p.m., and 10:30 p.m.
Rising Airline Traffic Data
Reflect Advent of Normalcy
A steady return toward peace-time normalcy and rapidly expanding operations are reflected in traffic over Pan American World Airways’ Latin American division for the last 30 days reported, showing a considerable increase over the same period last year and over the preceding 30 days in 1945.
Wilbur L. Morrison, vice president in charge of the Division, noted in making public the monthly traffic data that more flights are being flown as additional equipment becomes available in limited quantities, and by greater utilization of aircraft previously operated so as to get more hours per day out of them.
Traffic in and out of the five key United States gateways (Miami, Fla.; New Orleans, La.; Los Angeles, Calif.; Brownsville and Laredo, Tex.), accounted for 19,815, or approximately 35 per cent, during the period covered, while passenger traffic outside the United States reached 40,712, for a grand total of 60,527, or almost 2,000 daily in the skies somewhere over the American republics.
These represented substantial advances from 16,429 passengers into or out of United States gateways for the same period last year, which saw 35,107 passengers aloft during the 30 days over all the cities in Latin America outside of the United States served by the 50,000-mile PAA network in the area covered.
During the preceding 30 days in 1945, United States traffic amounted to 18,397, while traffic in Latin America totalled 37,891, with express and mail figures showing comparable increases at key gateway cities both in Latin America and the United States.
Miami had 7,883 passengers in and 6,129 out, for a total of 14,012, up from 11,737 during the same period last year, and an increase from 13,075 the previous month.
Airexpress shipments into, and out of Miami during the 30-day period totalled 470,472 pounds, as against 336,152 a year Continued on Page U
COD Service Inaugurated Between Colombia and U.S.
A direct stimulus of great importance to the rapidly growing airexpress trade between Colombia and the United States came with the announcement by Pan American World Airways of an express collect and C. O. D. service, effective October 1. It is the first time in the 18 years of PAA operations into the South Amerp can continent that such service has beeji available in the republic of Colombia.
The new service greatly simplifies the movements of airexpress shipments between Colombia and the United States and stimulates additional trade by airexpress.
There are now two all-cargo clippers into Columbia each week as well as the airexpress tonnage carried'by the many regular Clipper flights. The all-cargo Clippers arrive and depart from Barranquilla on Tuesdays and Thursdays.
WELL DONE SAYS ARMY TO BRO WORKERS
Pan American World Airways in Brownsville played such an important role in cooperating with the Army Air Forces during the war that the international airline has received personal commendation from Gen. Henry H. Arnold, commander of the U. S. Army Air Forces.
In the letter addressed to PAA officials in Brownsville, General Arnold said, “This is the day for which we have all been working and praying since December 7, 1941. The Japs have followed the Germans in surrender by three months. We all know the conclusive part played by our Army Air Forces in the winning of these victories, and the Army Air Forces appreciates more than anyone else what you and your employees have done to provide the services with which we are able to operate. Your plant in Brownsville cooperated magnificently in meeting every changed or urgent production schedule. Without your understanding services, our air plans against these two enemies could never have been accomplished.
“I salute you and your employees on this first official day of peace and commend you highly for your part in making it possible.
“With best of luck to every one of you and the hearty thanks of your Army Air Forces.”
In August, 1942, Pan American Airways at Brownsville had joined six other commercial airlines in becoming the first airline depots to be hurridly cleared for modification work on Army aircraft. In a period of little more than six months, Continued on Page U
NASSAU REMOVES U. S. PASSPORT RULE
Travel to the Bahamas has been made easier by the Colonial government, which has lifted the wartime requirement that United States citizens must have passports.
The action of Nassau officials is in line with announcement by the United States waiving Federal requirements for a passport within the western hemisphere. Action of the United States Department of State was qualified by the condition that the -area to be visited did not require a United States passport. This previously confined the effect of the State Department’s action to Mexico and Guatemala.
It is expected that most of the Latin American countries will follow suit in the near future, restoring travel conditions to their pre-war status.