America Export Airlines & Sikorsky VS-44A

In the early 1900s American Export Shipping Lines was one of the largest shipping companies between the U.S. East coast and the Mediterranean. Four of their passenger ships were identified as the “Aces” due to their comfort and speed.

The crossing between America and Europe was one of the most heavily travelled passenger routes in the world. It was estimated about 1,000,000 passengers a year crossed the North Atlantic on the world’s greatest ocean liners, with about 180,000 in first class. Large quantities of mail and freight were also carried, an inviting revenue source for any airline.

With the growth of aviation in 1937 it was generally recognized that Pan American Airways was the unofficial U.S. flag carrier, and after its successful Pacific flights was ready to conquer the Atlantic. However, at that time American Export Shipping Lines decided to enter the aviation arena and in April 1937 established a subsidiary named American Export Airlines (AEA) also known as AMEX. Juan Trippe, President of PAA was very concerned and challenged the right of a shipping company to operate an airline. The CAB ruled in AEA’s favor. Pan American was aggressively negotiating with Britain, Canada, Bermuda and Portugal in preparation for transatlantic flights between the U.S. and Europe. These were difficult agreements to obtain as Imperial Airways also had transatlantic desires but did not have suitable aircraft to cross the North Atlantic and Britain would not grant PAA landing rights until Imperial could start a similar service. Additional transatlantic competition was also in the offing from the German Zeppelins, Lufthansa and Air France. Pan American considered competition from a second U.S. airline unacceptable, and Juan Trippe put his considerable government contacts to work to protect PAA’s interests.

The British government had control over landing rights at Newfoundland and Bermuda that were Atlantic stepping stones when Pan American and Imperial Airways signed an agreement which effectively eliminated any competition without those landing rights. The agreement also provided that neither Pan American nor Imperial Airways could begin service until both airlines were able to do so. Imperial still had no aircraft capable of making the journey and Pan American had to wait.

The Montreal Agreement in 1935 between the U.S., United Kingdom, Canada and the Irish Free State ruled that all transatlantic aircraft would land at an Irish airport when travelling east or west. In December 1935 it was announced by the Irish government that Foynes, near the city of Limerick, with a sheltered harbor on the River Shannon in the west of . . .