Am Ex to Foynes

The longest and bitterest fight in U.S. aviation history officially ended last week. In spite of war's hell, high water and Pan American Airways, CAB approved American Export Airlines' petition to fly the New York-Foynes, Ireland route. Using its new $700,000, four-engined flying boat Excalibur (TIME, Jan. 26), Am Ex expects to make its first nonstop Atlantic crossing in April. For May--when two sister boats will be ready--its ambitious schedule calls for three crossings each way every week.

Am Ex will run the route without a mail contract, therefore at a loss. Since April 1937, Am Ex has scrapped up & down Congressional hallways for a mail subsidy, was always outmaneuvered, outweighed by nimble giant Pan Am, which wants the Atlantic route to itself. But Am Ex can still haul diplomats and military big shots, fat sacks of foreign mail. Estimated annual loss: $196,000. But Am Ex has a powerful ally in American Export Lines, Inc., which earned $10,000,000 in 1941's first nine months, owns 70% of the airline stock.

This week it looked as though there would still be plenty of after-the-bell fighting between Am Ex and Pan Am. If there is, it will not be in Congressional lobbies, but out where the customers can see it--competition in speed, service, maybe rates.

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