One of the last great underdeveloped markets for air travel reaches from the U.S. across the Pacific—to Japan, Australia, Southeast Asia and the islands in between. No major Pacific routes have been awarded by the U.S. Government since 1946, and airline executives have been lobbying long and hard to get more. The first leg of the air race ended last spring, when a Civil Aeronautics Board examiner recommended that the international business be divided up among five carriers. The final decision was up to the White House, which last week finally put an end to the marathon.
Winners and Losers....