Airlines

Comac delivers the Second C919 aircraft to China Eastern airlines

One of the nation’s major airlines, China Eastern Airlines, has received the second C919 built by Commercial Aircraft Corporation of China.

COMAC delivered the single-aisle narrow-body passenger aircraft to China Eastern in Shanghai. In the afternoon of July 14th, 2023, a “three certificate” issuance and delivery ceremony of China Eastern Airlines B-919C aircraft was held in the flight test complex building of Commercial Aircraft Corporation of China, Ltd. (COMAC)’s Zhuqiao base, marking the official delivery of the second C919 aircraft to China Eastern Airlines (CEA).

World’s First C919 Aircraft Delivered to China Eastern Airlines(Opens in a new browser tab)

The ceremony was attended by CAAC East China Regional Administration staff and appointed representatives, all members of the CEA awaiting team, relevant leaders of COMAC’s Assembly Manufacturing Centre, and the major members of the delivery team.

Beginning in August 2022, the final construction of the B-919C aircraft was finished in February 2023, and the production flight test was finished in June 2023. The CEA awaiting team worked closely with the COMAC delivery team to properly finish all the tasks, including aircraft appearance inspection, ground test, delivery flight test, CAAC inspection, and document handover, after the delivery phase had begun.

The C919 plane from China is given the go-ahead for mass production.(Opens in a new browser tab)

The China Eastern Airlines B-919C aircraft finished the ferry trip on July 16 and will soon begin route service. According to COMAC, China’s aviation market is forecast to add 9,284 new planes during the next two decades, with 6,288 of them being single-aisle aircraft. According to COMAC, China will have 10,007 passenger planes by 2041, or 21.1 percent of the total, making it the world’s largest aviation market.

Chinese aircraft manufacturer Comac delivered the second C919 to its first customer China Eastern Airlines on Sunday morning in Shanghai.#plane #aircraft #aviation pic.twitter.com/axFUUIl4aS
— FL360aero (@fl360aero) July 16, 2023

The C919 confronts the challenge of breaking into a market dominated by Airbus and Boeing as a newbie. Chinese airlines and a few other foreign clients have ordered the aircraft, but it is still unclear if it will be able to capture a sizable portion of the worldwide market.

Airlines

DOT Proposes New Passenger Compensation Rules for Flight Disruptions

The U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) has unveiled a major initiative to enhance protections for air travelers affected by flight cancellations or significant delays caused by airlines.

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This Advance Notice of Proposed Rulemaking (ANPRM) seeks public feedback on new measures that could require airlines to compensate passengers and provide necessary services automatically.

Key Proposals by the DOT:

Cash Compensation for Airline-Caused Disruptions
- Airlines may be required to pay passengers at least $200 in cash for flight disruptions caused by circumstances under their control, such as mechanical issues or IT failures.
- A tiered compensation system is being considered:
  - $200–$300 for domestic delays of 3–6 hours.
  - $375–$525 for delays lasting 6–9 hours.
  - $750–$775 for delays exceeding 9 hours.
- The DOT is exploring whether smaller airlines should have different compensation thresholds and whether compensation is needed if passengers are notified weeks in advance of a disruption.
Free Rebooking on the Next Available Flight
- Airlines may be obligated to rebook passengers at no extra cost if a flight is canceled or delayed by at least 3 hours domestically or 6 hours internationally.
- Rebooking options may include:
  - Flights operated by the airline or its codeshare partners.
  - Flights on other carriers with which the airline has a commercial agreement if no suitable options are available within 24 hours.
Provision of Meals, Lodging, and Transportation
- Airlines may need to cover meals, overnight accommodations, and transportation for stranded passengers.
- Minimum reimbursements could be established when services aren’t provided upfront, ensuring passengers can recoup costs even without submitting receipts, up to a defined limit.

The DOT’s proposals draw inspiration from consumer protection frameworks in countries like Canada, Brazil, the UK, and the European Union. Research suggests that EU compensation requirements have successfully reduced the frequency and length of delays, demonstrating the effectiveness of such measures.

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Passengers currently face numerous hurdles when seeking compensation or services, including vague policies, lack of upfront communication, and reliance on in-person requests at airports. The new rulemaking aims to close these gaps by establishing clear, enforceable standards for airlines.

Public input on the proposed measures will shape the final rules. The DOT hopes these changes will create a more accountable and passenger-friendly system, ensuring travelers are better supported during disruptions.

With these proposed rules, the DOT seeks to make airline travel more reliable and fair, setting a new standard for passenger rights in the United States.