832.796/248: Telegram
The Chargé in Brazil (Burdett) to the Secretary of State
[Received 11:16 p.m.]
582. Your 387 of November 9, 9 p.m. In order to obtain the requested information, Gates and Hardin96 accompanied by a member of [Page 667] the Embassy staff called informally today on the Brazilian Director of Civil Aeronautics. He said that Condor was maintaining its international Rio–Buenos Aires service and that, therefore for the present at least, its schedule is not available for cession to PAA. He said, however, that his department was willing for PAA to operate additional [air schedules?].
The director then said that as Condor had suspended a weekly schedule from Rio de Janeiro to Fortaleza he would like Panair do Brasil to take it over immediately. In this case Condor’s transferred to Panair do Brasil. It should be explained that Condor still retains its weekly schedule Rio–Fortaleza–Teresina–Pará.
The director further said that his department wished Panair do Brasil urgently to extend its Rio–Porta Alegre service as far as Montevideo and increase flights from tri-weekly to daily period, also that he wished Panair do Brasil to consider a service Rio–São Paulo–Corumba–Porto Velho. Condor now operates this service from Rio de Janeiro to Corumba but has suspended its line from Corumba to Porto Velho. He thought Condor might suspend its line from Bio to Corumba and in that case the entire service Rio-Porto Velho would be given exclusively to Panair do Brasil.
The Director mentioned that his department some time ago signed an agreement with Panair do Brasil authorizing it to extend its Amazon line from Manaos to Tabatinga at the Peruvian frontier. He added that the Pará–Manaos service should be increased from one to three round trip flights weekly. Also that study might well be given to the establishment of feeder lines in several other regions of Brazil.
Gates and Hardin made no commitments and expressed no opinions. It should be noted that none of the routes or schedules last mentioned by the director involve any new privileges to American international carriers.
Greater weight should be given to the director’s statements and any opportunities which are steps leading to a gradual elimination of Condor services should be thoroughly explored.
Gates and Hardin telephoned the Chairman of the CAB this afternoon and will telegraph him tomorrow. They highly recommend following up the director’s proposals.
- Thomas O. Hardin, Chairman, Air Safety Board, Civil Aeronautics Authority.↩