In a statement on the reduction of passenger trafic, Imperial Airways makes it clear that the decision has been most reluctantly taken because, the rst place, of difficulties in obtaining new alferaft to make up the fleet. shortage owing to the rearmament programme "The Air Ministry," it declares, "obtains priority in deliveries. Even deliveries which Imperial Airways had a right to expect were sometimes Tate 'oF faulty There ig also the immediate serious shortage of trained personnel. Conditions are nov so abnormal and restructive that the recruiting of pilots from the Royal Air Force is virtually Impossible.
Moreover. the statement continues, the Air Ministry is unable at the present time to Fender civil aviation the assistance an¢ encouragement which it needs, and which the Seerelary of State wishes to give The leet shortage is also accent tuated by a singular series of losses of the Company's aircraft during 1990,
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.