Page 11 - Chinese International Airmail to 1949

1.2 Air France Eastern Service

The French service from Saigon to Marseilles was operated weekly from April 1931, and began to be used by the southern
Yunnan province from September 1931. It was not used generally by the Chinese post office until 31 December 1932.
Mail destined for Europe had to be endorsed “Via Saigon‑Marseilles Air Line”. Initially all mail was sent to Saigon by
sea, but feeder services were developed over the next few years:
Jan 1935 Air France Hanoi to Bangkok 16 Dec 1937 Eurasia Kunming to Hanoi
10 Jul 1936 CNAC Canton to Hanoi 10 Aug 1938 Air France Hong Kong to Hanoi.
Air France Eastern Service: Saigon, Angkor, Bangkok, Rangoon, Akyab, Calcutta, Allahbad, Jodhpur, Karachi, Djask, Bouchir,
Baghdad, Damas, Beyrout, Castelrosso, Athens, Corfu, Naples to Marseilles. Links became available to Paris and London.

2 Dec 1932 ‑ Shanghai to Seine et Oise, France. Saigon‑Marseilles service used before general acceptance by Chinese post office.
Single rate registered letter $0.25 + $3.00 + $0.25 = $3.50.

The rate depended on the country of destination, although the rate to Western Europe was unified in April 1939.
Some examples:
Start date Surface Marseilles Europe Europe Start date Surface Marseilles Europe Europe
to Marseilles from Marseilles to Marseilles from Marseilles
first 20g Air per 10g Air per 10g Air per 5g Air per 5g Air per 20g
2 Aug 1932 0.25 3.00 14 Feb 1936 0.25 0.65 0.65 0.00
31 Dec 1932 0.25 1.48 1.58 1 May 1936 0.25 0.61 0.61 0.17
Air per 5g Air per 5g Air per 20g 10 Jul 1936 0.25 0.65 0.65 0.00
3 Jun 1933 0.25 0.69 0.69 0.19 19 Apr 1939 0.25 0.75 0.75 0.00
19 Mar 1935 0.25 0.61 0.61 0.17 1 Sep 1939 0.50 1.25 1.25 0.00
1 Jun 1935 0.20 0.49 0.49 0.14 1 Nov 1939 0.50 2.00 2.00 0.00
1 Feb 1936 0.25 0.61 0.61 0.17 17 Jul 1940 route ceased
An additional fee was payable if the internal Chinese air mail service was used. $0.15 per 20g until 31 Jan 1933, $0.25 after.