T W A Fare Cut

Month ago Transcontinental & Western Air, Inc. announced that in the first nine months of 1936 it had set new records for passenger, mail and express transport. Last week, faced by the winter slump which has always hurt passenger flying, TWA made the most important bid for travelers any U. S. airline has offered in a long time. This major transcontinental system cut its fares approximately to the level of ordinary railroad fares, considerably below extra-fare trains.

Old TWA fare from New York to Chicago was $47.95, or $40.76 in scrip.* New fare is $39.95, or $33.96 in scrip. Standard train plus Pullman fare from New York to Chicago is $33.25. On the Twentieth Century Limited it is $42.45. The Century takes 16 1/2 hours; TWA, 4 1/4hours.

TWA's transcontinental rates fall from $160 to $139.95 for single tickets, from $136 to $118.95 in scrip. Time is 15 1/2 hours eastbound, 16 1/2westbound. Minimum coast-to-coast rail fare, including a lower berth, is $113.25 for a 3 1/2-day trip.

Acutely annoyed, TWA's two transcontinental rivals, American and United Air Lines, announced that they would not reduce rates at all. Only one other major U. S. airline followed TWA's lead--Chicago & Southern Air Lines, flying between Chicago and New Orleans. Snapped President C. R. Smith of American: "It is common knowledge that the companies announcing rate cuts have lost and are losing business to competing companies."

*By buying scrip, good at any time on any U. S. airline, in $500 batches, travelers get a 15% reduction.

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