Although the DC-3 transport aircraft was superior in terms of specifications, if Arthur had to choose which aircraft to fly in himself, he would actually prefer the Boeing 367.
There was no doubt that compared with the Boeing 367, the DC-3 was more efficient as a transport aircraft and more accessible to ordinary people.
Some of the Boeing 367's designs, including its lavatory, were clearly intended to serve the upper and middle classes.
Even with the same engine power, the Boeing 367 was larger and heavier, so its fuel consumption would add considerably to the cost.
Moreover, despite having various other facilities, the Boeing 367 could carry only 31 people—three crew members and 28 passengers—which was three fewer than the smaller DC-3.
This meant that while the Boeing 367's operating costs were higher, those greater costs had to be spread among fewer passengers, making the ticket price faced by each passenger higher as well.
As airlines in various countries had developed, ticket prices remained one of the problems most often criticized. Take Australasia, for example. As the country and region where the aviation industry had originated, the Royal Aviation Company of Australasia was one of the largest airlines in the world, and it could even obtain low-priced aircraft from the Boeing Company and Douglas Aircraft Company.
By all rights, the Royal Aviation Company's ticket prices should have been relatively cheap. After all, its costs were indeed lower than those of other airlines.
In reality, however, an official ticket from Sydney to Wellington was priced at 60 Australian pounds, 15 shillings, and 7 pence.
Australasia's current per-capita income was only around 200 Australian pounds, which meant that making one round trip between Australasia and New Zealand would consume more than half a year's income.
The good news was that once the