Eastern Link

The fog-topped Alleghenies have been the chief obstacle to a direct air passenger service between New York and Chicago. Last week National Air Transport, doubtless spurred by the opening of Transcontinental & Western Air's coast-to-coast line (TIME, Nov. 3), announced passenger service to begin Dec. 1 over its radio-marked mail route from New York via Cleveland and Toledo to Chicago. In trimotored Fords, streamlined and otherwise "cleaned-up" to cruise at 125 m.p.h., passengers and mail will make the westward flight in eight hours. Boosted along by prevailing winds, the eastbound planes should take only 6 1/2hr. Fare: $59.50.*

Meeting its sister company, Boeing Air Transport (both subsidiaries of United Aircraft & Transport Corp.) at Chicago, N. A. T.'s new service completes another through passageway for transcontinental passengers. The California-bound traveler reaches Chicago by early evening in ample time to board Boeing's night mail plane to the coast-total flying schedule 28 1/2 hr. But unless the mail load is light, in which case a maximum of four passengers might be taken, the passenger must wait overnight in Chicago for the morning transport, arriving in San Francisco the morning after that. When enough travelers appear to demand it, large passenger planes may be flown regularly on the night schedule. At Salt Lake City the passenger may transfer to another United Aircraft division, Varney Air Lines, to reach Portland, Spokane, Seattle.

* Fastest trains, notably the 20th Century Limited and Broadway Limited, schedule 20 hr., fare plus Pullman, $51.30.

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