Trade Winds

After two years of storm, the air began to clear last week for the aircraft and airline industries.

P: Douglas Aircraft found that its earnings were "materially larger than anticipated" and declared an extra $2.75 dividend along with the quarterly $1.25 payment. Estimated 1948 profit was at least $4,650,000, compared to a $2,140,000 loss in 1947 (including a $12,640,000 tax credit).

P: Lockheed, thanks to big military orders, got out of the red in 1948 and hoped to do better this year. It had worked its bank debt from $27,000,000 down to $6,000,000 and has a $195,900,000 backlog, compared to $124,820,000 a year ago.

P:Impressed by the success of cut-rate coach fares, Northwest Airlines said it would ask CAB approval for a coach fare of $96.80 from New York to Seattle (regular fare: $157.85), slightly lower than even nonscheduled lines fare of $99.

P:In Washington, the Justice Department asked CAB to go slow on an order which would restrict (and perhaps drive out of business) most small nonscheduled lines. DOJ thought the little fellows did a lot of good. Said DOJ: "The subsidized . . . carriers have little incentive to curtail extravagances in the absence of competition."

P: American Airlines gravely announced that its passengers "will be encouraged to munch peppermint candies" instead of chewing gum, the traditional way to overcome ear discomfort. American's medical department found, in "a careful investigation," that candy works just as well.

This file is automatically generated by a robot program, so reader's discretion is required.