United is once again adding to its long-haul network. The Chicago-based carrier began selling a new route from its San Francisco (SFO) hub to Barcelona (BCN).
A United 777-200 in San Francisco. (Photo: AirlineGeeks | Ben Suskind)
United is once again adding to its long-haul network. On Wednesday evening, the Chicago-based carrier began selling a new route from its San Francisco (SFO) hub to Barcelona (BCN). The airline currently serves Barcelona regularly from Newark (EWR) and seasonally from Chicago O’Hare (ORD) and Washington Dulles (IAD).
Starting on May 23, 2024, the airline will launch daily service from SFO to Barcelona with a Boeing 777-200 aircraft. The outbound flight is blocked at 11 hours and 30 minutes, departing SFO at 5:45 p.m. and arriving in Barcelona at 1:55 p.m. local time the following day. The longer return leg is slated to be 12 hours and five minutes, leaving Barcelona at 5:20 p.m., and then arriving in SFO at 8:20 p.m.
United will compete directly with low-cost carrier LEVEL’s seasonal SFO-BCN service. Besides Barcelona, United serves seven other European markets from its San Francisco hub.
According to Cirium Diio data, United will operate the most flights between the U.S. and Europe of any airline in July 2024. The carrier has also been building up its presence in Spain as well with 30% year-over-year growth in the country, per Live and Let’s Fly.
Ryan founded AirlineGeeks.com in February 2013 and has spent more than a decade covering the airline business. His work has been featured by CNN, WJLA, CNET, and Business Insider. His aviation experience spans airport operations, Part 135 regulatory compliance, and airline crew workforce planning, along with time behind the yoke of a Cessna 172 and interviews with airline executives. Ryan now serves as Group President of Firecrown Media’s Aviation Group. He holds a B.S. in Air Transportation Management and an MBA from Arizona State University and teaches Airline Management at Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University.
TAAG – Linhas Aéreas de Angola revealed its new leadership during an extraordinary general assembly, setting the stage for an ambitious journey into 2024. António dos Santos Domingos takes the reins as President of the Board of Directors, while Nelson Pedro Rodrigues de Oliveira assumes the role of President of the Executive Committee.
As the airline welcomes a new leadership, it bids farewell to Eduardo Fairen Soria, who served as CEO since October 2021. The 62-year-old Spaniard played a crucial role in TAAG’s recent successes, including financial growth, international partnerships, and operational recovery post-COVID.
António dos Santos Domingos, a seasoned manager with over 30 years of experience in leading organizations such as Sonangol, Sonair, Helimalongo, Sonagesa, Banco Caixa Angola, Sonagás, and Banco de Desenvolvimento de Angola, now leads TAAG’s Board of Directors. Armed with a bachelor’s and master’s degree in financial economics, Santos Domingos expressed a commitment to working towards making TAAG a relevant flagship airline, acknowledging the challenges and the collective effort required.
A New CEO
Taking charge as the CEO and President of the Executive Committee is Nelson Pedro Rodrigues de Oliveira, a familiar face with over 38 years of experience at TAAG. Oliveira, previously with the National Civil Aviation Authority (ANAC), brings a wealth of knowledge gained from various technical roles.
His focus on the maintenance and engineering department, especially with the 777, 737, and Dash-8 fleets, positions him strategically for the role. Oliveira holds a degree in Business Management with a specialty in Air Transport Management, along with licenses and certifications from both ANAC and FAA.
Miguel Carneiro, formerly a Consultant to the Office of the Minister of Transport, joins TAAG as a Non-Executive Director with 20 years of transversal management experience and a background in aviation business administration.
The announcement ensures continuity with the retention of former Directors, including Misayely Celestino Isaac Abias and Iuri Miguel Guerra Neto as non-executive directors. Executive directors João Miguel da Gama Lobo Semedo, Sais Daalaoui, Maria Manuela Resende da Costa Pardal, Nowel R. Nagala, Custody Gabriela Pereira Basto, and Susana Ramos also remain in their respective roles.
Victor Shalton's love for aviation can be traced to when he was 11-years-old. As a seasoned aviation writer, he takes pride in providing the best aviation coverage around the globe and is passionate about advancing his skills in the aviation space. In addition, he loves travelling, writing, arts and while his speaking engagements have taken him around the world, he is proud to call Nairobi home.
Emerson was previously indicted by state prosecutors on attempted murder charges for his actions on the flight from Everett, Wash. to San Francisco. He also faces a federal charge of interfering with a flight crew.
Emerson’s attorneys argued that the attempted murder charges were inappropriate because their client never intended to hurt anyone. “He simply wanted to return home to his wife and children,” they said in a statement. The defense also claimed that Emerson was not aware of his actions at the time, suggesting he might have been delusional or had a mental health episode.
The decision to drop the attempted murder charges comes as a victory for Emerson’s defense team. However, he still faces a significant number of both state and federal charges that could result in a lengthy prison sentence.
“Captain Emerson apologizes for his actions. He also thanks the flight crew for their response and for showing him kindness and grace during his mental breakdown,” the law firm’s statement said.
Ryan founded AirlineGeeks.com in February 2013 and has spent more than a decade covering the airline business. His work has been featured by CNN, WJLA, CNET, and Business Insider. His aviation experience spans airport operations, Part 135 regulatory compliance, and airline crew workforce planning, along with time behind the yoke of a Cessna 172 and interviews with airline executives. Ryan now serves as Group President of Firecrown Media’s Aviation Group. He holds a B.S. in Air Transportation Management and an MBA from Arizona State University and teaches Airline Management at Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University.
Aer Lingus is the largest carrier at Dublin Airport. (Photo: Dublin Airport)
DAA, the airport operator of Ireland’s Dublin and Cork airports, revealed that Dublin Airport had handled 2.2 million in November, a 4% increase compared to the same time last year. 95% of those passengers passed through security screening within 15 minutes, the airport authority said.
In addition, Cork Airport is expected to experience its busiest year in its history. 191,000 passengers passed through the airport in the last month, a 14% increase over November 2022. The airport – located in southern Ireland – is forecast to handle 2.75 million passengers in 2023.
“December will be a very busy and important month for us at our Irish airports as we facilitate the journeys of millions of passengers coming home for Christmas.” Kenny Jacobs, CEO of DAA said in a press release.
At the same time, the DAA is also looking at relaxing restrictions on Dublin’s north runway. The aircraft currently can’t use the north runway from 11 pm.. to 7 a.m. Instead, the airport is seeking to allow aircraft to use the runway between 6 a.m. and midnight. The north runway was officially launched in August 2022. In response to air traffic noise, the DAA has provided households around the airport €20,000 ($21,600) to insulate their homes.
InterVista, a consultancy firm, said the runway restrictions put a strain on the airport, losing out on a positive economic impact of €262 million in 2024. It also unveiled that the economy will lose out on an additional 3,130 jobs. Another report from Mott McDonald Global Aviation has shed new light on the airport’s capacity with it expected to handle 39.6 million passengers and 46.6 million by the end of 2030 and 2040 respectively after relaxing the restrictions.
The airport’s capacity has been limited to a cap of 32 million passengers since launching the north runway. The airport hit the mark after the pandemic, handling 28.1 million passengers and recorded a profit of €98 million in 2022.
Relaxing the Restrictions
According to the DAA, there were over 100 aircraft movements between 11 p.m. and 7 a.m. in 2019. The current restrictions would reduce 65 air movement as a result. The majority of this movement takes place during the hours of 6 -7 a.m. and 11 p.m. to midnight. The airport said the restrictions were set in 2007. Two major airlines of Dublin Airport, Ryanair and Aer Lingus, own a large number of new aircraft which are 50% quieter.
The DAA is desperate to relax the rules so that Dublin Airport can compete with other European airports, such as Copenhagen, Barcelona, and Vienna. But new operating times are not for everyone; local residents said the new proposal is unacceptable.
Meanwhile, Dublin Airport has proposed a plan for 40 million passengers, revealing an expansion of both the north and south aprons; improvement of Terminal 1 security; new aircraft stands on the west end of the airfield, and enhanced drainage infrastructure.
“The continued sustainable development of the airport to meet this growing demand will be crucial to facilitating the level of growth in tourism, trade, investment and jobs that’s recognized and required by government policy,” Jacobs said.
An ITA Airways Airbus A330-200 at Rome Fiumicino Airport.
(Photo: ITA Airways)
On Jan. 8, 2024, a long chapter in the history of Italian commercial aviation will come to a close. At 10.45 a.m. local time flight AZ 605 will land at Milan Malpensa Airport arriving from New York’s JFK airport marking the last service to be operated by Italian flag carrier ITA Airways at Malpensa Airport for the foreseeable future.
ITA Airways was created in October 2021 from the ashes of Alitalia, the historic Italian flag carrier which in the past 25 years has gone from bankruptcy to bankruptcy until its final demise followed by a rebirth under a different name. Under its various names, the carrier had maintained a presence at Malpensa Airport since the beginning of commercial operations in 1948 until October 2020, when the last remaining flight to Rome Fiumicino was suspended and no other services were being operated from the airport.
As mentioned, at the end of 2021 Alitalia was replaced by ITA Airways and, following the removal of COVID-related restrictions to entry into the U.S. for European citizens, the flag carrier restarted its service to New York-JFK, resuming the only long-haul flight operated outside its main hub at Rome’s Fiumicino Airport.
A former Alitalia 777 aircraft in storage (Photo: AirlineGeeks | William Derrickson)
In 2000, Alitalia moved most of its flight operations to Malpensa, making it its main hub following the opening of a brand-new terminal building. However, most of the crew and personnel remained based in Rome, adding unnecessary costs and complexity to the move which was eventually rolled back just ten years later with all flights reverting once again to Fiumicino.
Seven Carriers Compete on the Route
The flight between Malpensa and New York operated by ITA Airways with an Airbus A330-200 was facing heavy competition in one of the most contested long-haul routes in Europe. The city pair is currently served by six other airlines: all the U.S. megacarriers are active on the market, with American Airlines and Delta Air Lines serving New York-JFK while United Airlines is operating from its Newark hub.
In addition, Emirates is also a competitor with its Dubai-Milan-New York service operated with a Boeing 777-300ER aircraft. In June 2021, Italian leisure carrier Neos threw its hat into the ring with a twice-weekly service operated with a Boeing 787-9. French carrier La Compagnie connects Malpensa with Newark five times a week with a 76-seat Airbus A321neo in an all-business class configuration.
Although no official confirmation has been issued by ITA Airways, it is believed the Milan-New York service is the worst-performing flight of its long-haul network as it needs to be operated on a pure point-to-point basis since there are no feeder flights at either side of the route and ITA’s reservation system is not even proposing itineraries involving flights into Milan’s other airport, Linate.
Focus on Linate
ITA Airways maintains a large presence at Linate, which is unable to accommodate intercontinental services due to a short runway and a perimeter rule preventing flights longer than 1,500 kilometers (approximately 810 nautical miles). Linate is capacity-constrained, with traffic artificially restricted at 18 movements per hour, but ITA Airways holds approximately 70% of landing and takeoff slots at the airport which has been selected as a focus city in Northern Italy.
With its convenient location only eight kilometers (five miles) away from Milan’s business district, Linate is ideal for short-haul flights to European destinations, while Malpensa Airport is located almost 50 kilometers from the city and can be reached only with a one-hour trip by car or train.
Vanni fell in love with commercial aviation during his undergraduate studies in Statistics at the University of Bologna, when he prepared his thesis on the effects of deregulation on the U.S. and European aviation markets. Then he pursued his passion further by obtaining a Master’s Degree in Air Transport Management at Cranfield University in the U.K. followed by holding several management positions at various start-up carriers in Europe (Jet2, SkyEurope, Silverjet). After moving to Canada, he was Business Development Manager for IATA for nine years before turning to his other passion: sports writing.
Top 5 Holiday Gifts to Get Your Favorite AvGeek
Having a hard time shopping for the aviation enthusiast in your life? We have you covered with these five holiday gift ideas.
An American Airlines employee dressed as Santa prepares to wing walk a Snowball Express flight from Washington-Reagan (Photo: AirlineGeeks | Ryan Ewing)
Aviation enthusiasts – also known as AvGeeks – are a unique breed of individuals who are fascinated by all things aircraft and aviation. If you’re looking for the perfect gift for the AvGeek in your life, we’ve got you covered this holiday season with AirlineGeeks’ top five picks.
1. MotoArt PlaneTags
MotoArt PlaneTags are an excellent stocking stuffer for any AvGeek. These tags are made from upcycled retired aircraft and come in a variety of airlines and aircraft types. You can attach PlaneTags to your keys, luggage, flight bag, briefcase, etc.
For people to learn a bit more about the aircraft they now own, each tag comes with tail and serial numbers. Right in time for the holidays, one of the newest releases is from a Pan Am Boeing 727.
Shop here for the latest PlaneTags deals and get a piece of aviation history.
A Pan Am 727 PlaneTag (Photo: MotoArt)
2. Airplane Models
You really can’t go wrong with an airplane model. From military to civilian aircraft and everything in between, there are many different types of these models available, so you can find one that fits their interests. A model with personal significance (i.e. first flight, last flight as a pilot, etc.) can also be a great option.
A great place to start your hunt for that perfect airplane model is the Midwest Model Store with competitive pricing and a wide array of unique options.
An Eva Air airplane model (Photo: Midwest Model Store)
3. Aviation-Themed Merch
Sometimes the best gifts have a story behind them. A great option is aviation-themed merchandise, including t-shirts, hats, and phone cases. You can even customize some of these items to reflect the recipient’s local airport or favorite aircraft type.
Head over to Aeroswag and check out their selection of aviation-themed merch, which now includes a themed t-shirt devoted to the Queen of the Skies. The final 747 was rolled out of the factory on Dec. 6, 2022. Our friends at 08Left also have some artistic aviation designs.
A 747-themed t-shirt (Photo: Aeroswag)
4. Flight Simulators
Recreational flight simulators have evolved over time. Now, you don’t need a PC to run a high-quality simulation game. There are a handful that can run right on an IOS or Android device with advanced features such as 3D airports and air traffic control.
Infinite Flight is a great option; the app is available on IOS and Android app stores. There are options to purchase pro subscriptions, which provide additional aircraft types and livery designs.
Infinite Flight’s simulator is available across multiple devices (Photo: AirlineGeeks | Ryan Ewing)
5. Bar Carts/Trolleys
Gone are the days of ordinary bar carts. Spruce things up and wow guests with a bar cart that once served passengers on commercial flights around the world. After being decommissioned from airlines, some companies have overhauled these carts, making them useful while also preserving the notable design.
A converted beverage cart (Photo: SkyArt)
SkyArt sells a variety of these former carts with some featuring unique designs. These would make the perfect home decor addition.
Editor’s Note: AirlineGeeks may be affiliated with or receive commissions from various vendors referenced in this article.
AirlineGeeks.com was founded in February 2013 as a one-person blog in Washington D.C. Since then, we’ve grown to have 25+ active team members scattered across the globe. We are all here for the same reason: we love deep-diving into the fascinating realm of the airline industry.
Miami's newest aviation attraction: an MD-80 coffee shop (Photo: Reddit user Business_Swimming152)
Airlines aren’t known for their top-notch onboard coffee offerings. But one permanently-grounded airliner might just put a whole new twist on the trend of less-than-stellar airplane coffee.
According to WPLG, a new coffee shop – called Sky Coffee Buenos Aires – is located in Miami’s Brickell neighborhood. The owner, Rosana Bentos, once wanted to become a flight attendant and even sold her house to purchase the forward portion of the MD-80’s fuselage.
The onboard menu is better than what is available on some airlines these days. So-called ‘luxury’ coffee drinks are served, plus a VIP section with cappuccinos featuring 24k edible gold. Several food offerings are available as well, such as empanadas, treats, and sandwiches.
For those looking to get work done in the former jet, the shop’s website says that “onboard WiFi” is available in addition to power outlets.
The repurposed aircraft is a McDonnell Douglas MD-88 that previously belonged to Delta. Once registered as N965DL, the jet flew for the airline for nearly 30 years before being retired in 2019, then later scrapped in 2020. Delta retired its entire fleet of ‘Mad Dog’ aircraft in June 2020.
The new coffee shop just opened in early December and has been a hot spot for aviation and coffee lovers alike, according to local news reports. As the business grows, Bentos told WPLG that there may even be opportunities to expand the concept further.
Ryan founded AirlineGeeks.com in February 2013 and has spent more than a decade covering the airline business. His work has been featured by CNN, WJLA, CNET, and Business Insider. His aviation experience spans airport operations, Part 135 regulatory compliance, and airline crew workforce planning, along with time behind the yoke of a Cessna 172 and interviews with airline executives. Ryan now serves as Group President of Firecrown Media’s Aviation Group. He holds a B.S. in Air Transportation Management and an MBA from Arizona State University and teaches Airline Management at Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University.
The E-Freighter program encompasses the conversion of passenger jets into efficient cargo carriers. The initial focus is on the E190F model, with plans in motion for the subsequent conversion of the E195F variant. This process involves a comprehensive overhaul of the aircraft, including the reinforcement of the floor, installation of cargo-specific infrastructure such as rails and bulkheads, firewalls, and a newly crafted front fuselage to accommodate a spacious cargo door.
Embraer boasts impressive specifications for the E190F, capable of covering distances up to 3,723 km (2,313 miles) with maximum payload or an extended range of 4,500 km (2,800 miles) with maximum volumetric load. The larger E195F offers a range of 3,000 km (1,864 miles) with maximum payload and an extended 3,945 km (2,451 miles) with maximum bulky loads. The E190F will carry a payload of up to 10,700 kg, while the larger E195F model will carry up to 12,300 kg.
The E-Freighter is strategically tailored for the express delivery sector, capitalizing on the absence of an aircraft of similar size in this niche. Currently, the market features turboprops like the ATR 72-600F and converted jets like the Boeing 737-800BCF and Airbus A320P2F. The modification enables the transport of palletized cargo through dedicated cargo doors on the main deck.
Key modifications integral to the P2F conversion encompass the installation of a forward cargo door on the main deck, a cargo handling system, floor reinforcement, rigid cargo barriers, and a sophisticated smoke detection system in the cargo hold, complemented by class “E” extinguishers in the upper cargo compartment. Specific adjustments are made to the air management system, including cooling and pressurization, along with interior removal and provisions for the transportation of hazardous materials.
Nordic Aviation Capital emerges as a significant player in this venture, securing 10 conversion slots for the E190F/E195F models. As the launch customer, they are set to take deliveries in 2024. Astral Aviation, a Kenyan cargo airline, is poised to be the first beneficiary of the P2F program.
According to Cargo Facts, Embraer plans to begin flight tests soon and it has already started ground tests. The company stated that it expects to hand its first converted freighter over for certification with Brazilian authorities by the end of this year, with those in China and the U.S. to follow.
Victor Shalton's love for aviation can be traced to when he was 11-years-old. As a seasoned aviation writer, he takes pride in providing the best aviation coverage around the globe and is passionate about advancing his skills in the aviation space. In addition, he loves travelling, writing, arts and while his speaking engagements have taken him around the world, he is proud to call Nairobi home.
A Hawaiian A330-200 in Seattle. (Photo: AirlineGeeks | Katie Zera)
Let’s face it; any corporate acquisition or merger can leave employees with plenty of questions. In the airline business, add in complex networks, long seniority lists, along with stringent regulations, which can all lead to more questions than answers.
Former American Airlines CEO Bob Crandall said in a 2008 New York Times op-ed: “And [mergers] will anger airline employees, who will perceive themselves to be hurt by the mergers.” Although this was written 15 years ago, much of it holds true today.
Missouri Senators were so concerned about the controversial handling of seniority list integrations when American Airlines purchased TWA that a new piece of legislation was passed. In 2007, the McCaskill-Bond statute was signed into law and is codified under 49 U.S.C. § 42112; it requires the integration process to be done in a ‘fair and equitable manner.’
Is This Even a Merger?
A question on the top of the minds of many is how to define the transaction between Alaska and Hawaiian. Indeed, Alaska Air Group intends to purchase Hawaiian for $1.9 billion but plans to keep the brands separate. This sort of arrangement is fairly common among other industries in the U.S., especially for hotel chains.
Brand assets can often be a significant part of an acquisition. Both Hawaiian and Alaska have unique brands that carry enormous regional significance. But individual brands are far from a complete picture of any large-scale transaction.
Even though the brands will be separate, Alaska has strongly hinted at tighter-knit synergies on the business side. In an investors presentation regarding the acquisition, the company teased the idea of cross-fleeting, including the use of 737s to replace Hawaiian’s aging 717s. The deal’s press release used the word ‘combined’ 14 times.
During a press conference on Sunday, Alaska Air Group President and CEO Ben Minicucci said that customers will see two brands, but behind the scenes, the airlines will work on a single operating certificate and will combine workgroups under single collective bargaining agreements (CBAs), according to The Points Guy’s David Slotnick on Twitter/X.
According to the airline’s CEO, 86% of Alaska’s 24,000 employees are union-represented. Hawaiian has over 7,300 employees, many of whom are also represented by unions.
During the Sunday press conference, Hawaiian CEO Peter Ingram affirmed the commitment that all unionized employees would have job protection. For non-union jobs, Minicucci stopped short of confirming that all positions will be retained, but added, “…I see a significant number of those jobs still continuing into the future…”
On the crew side, both pilots and flight attendants at each airline are represented by the Alr Line Pilots Association (ALPA) and the Association of Flight Attendants-CWA (AFA) respectively.
An Alaska 737-900ER in Phoenix (Photo: AirlineGeeks | Katie Bailey)
Pilots
Excluding its Horizon subsidiary, Alaska Airlines has nearly 3,000 pilots with bases in Seattle, Los Angeles, San Francisco, Anchorage and Portland, according to the Pilot Careers Center. As of October 2023, the airline operates a fleet of all-Boeing 737 aircraft.
On the other hand, Hawaiian has just over 1,000 pilots and a single Honolulu base. It has a more diverse fleet with Boeing 717s, Airbus A321neos, Airbus A330s and soon-to-be-delivered Boeing 787-9 aircraft. The airline also has a small freighter division in partnership with Amazon’s Prime Air.
“Today, Alaska Airlines announced an agreement to combine with Hawaiian Airlines. The Alaska Airlines Master Executive Council (ALA MEC) of the Air Line Pilots Association, Int’l (ALPA) is evaluating the business case for this merger and what it may mean for pilots of both Alaska and Hawaiian Airlines as well as our passengers and other stakeholders,” ALPA shared in a statement regarding the proposed transaction.
Hawaiian has a far broader network than Alaska with flights not only to the U.S. mainland but also to Oceania, Asia and more. Larger aircraft and longer flight times often equate to higher pay rates.
Under the new agreement, Alaska’s pilot pay scale tops out at $340.25 per hour. At Hawaiian, pilots can receive $392 per hour on the company’s widebody aircraft. Of course, this does not include any sort of international overrides or premium pay.
For Alaska pilots, the ability to upgrade to larger widebody aircraft could be a plus for some. Hawaiian pilots who commute to the company’s singular Honolulu base could see benefits from Alaska’s broader offering of crew domiciles.
A Hawaiian Airlines Airbus A330-200 taxiing in Boston. (Photo: AirlineGeeks | Ben Suskind)
Flight Attendants
Similar to pilots at both airlines, flight attendants are represented by the same union. On Sunday, the AFA issued the following statement regarding the transaction: “AFA-CWA represents Flight Attendants at both Alaska and Hawaiian. Our first priority is to determine whether this merger will improve conditions for Flight Attendants just like the benefits the companies have described for shareholders and consumers. Our support of the merger will depend on this.”
Flight attendants at Hawaiian Airlines ratified a new five-year contract in 2020. In addition to the airline’s main base in Honolulu, Hawaiian also offers a Los Angeles domicile for its flight attendants. The carrier has 2,200 flight attendants.
“In fact, negotiations for Alaska Flight Attendants are continuing and top priority for our union. We will continue to push our careers forward and improvements for Flight Attendants are a central component to our review of support or opposition to a merger,” the AFA continued in its statement. Alaska has over 6,500 flight attendants.
What’s Next
These sorts of deals take time, and the companies expect a 12-18 month timeline prior to closing. Both the companies and unions have emphasized a business-as-usual approach until the transaction further materializes.
As seen with some prior airline acquisitions, the labor unions will share their support or disapproval as more details emerge. If joint CBAs for different workgroups were to hold true, seniority list integration would undoubtedly be a hot topic among many others.
It is worth noting, too, that there are several other unionized workgroups within the ranks of both airlines, including dispatchers, fleet service workers and mechanics. Some of which are still in active negotiations while others have ratified new agreements.
Finally, the deal is subject to an array of government approvals before it can close. This can add a whole new layer to the process as seen right now with JetBlue’s proposed merger with Spirit.
Ryan founded AirlineGeeks.com in February 2013 and has spent more than a decade covering the airline business. His work has been featured by CNN, WJLA, CNET, and Business Insider. His aviation experience spans airport operations, Part 135 regulatory compliance, and airline crew workforce planning, along with time behind the yoke of a Cessna 172 and interviews with airline executives. Ryan now serves as Group President of Firecrown Media’s Aviation Group. He holds a B.S. in Air Transportation Management and an MBA from Arizona State University and teaches Airline Management at Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University.
A China Eastern A330-300. (Photo: Triple Tree, CC BY-SA 4.0 , via Wikimedia Commons)
A China Eastern Airbus A330-300, performing flight MU-721 from Shanghai Hongqiao International Airport to Hong Kong International Airport, when about 30 nautical miles north of Xiamen, China suffered a left-hand engine failure. The aircraft, registered as B-8970, was equipped with Trent 772 engines.
Two of the fan blades got damaged and ejected through the top of the engine, leaving the rest intact. The aircraft suffered from severe vibration until landing at Xiamen Gaoqi International Airport.
Aviation safety company JACDEC posted footage of the incident. Initially, the video was submitted on the Chinese social media platform Weibo by a passenger onboard under the username Liam_1990.
The incident is referred to as uncontained as some parts of the engine had left the casing. The severity of such a case of failure rises significantly as the debris might pose a grave risk to the aircraft or even passengers directly. Thankfully, nobody onboard was injured and it appears that the airplane was not damaged further. Passengers onboard the flight experienced a tense twenty minutes of descending towards the diversion airport accompanied by a potent burning smell.
China Eastern was able to deploy another aircraft to complete the service. Another Airbus A330-300 carried the passengers from Xiamen to Hong Kong arriving with an accumulated delay of just under eight hours over the scheduled time.
Flight MU721 path from take-off until the diversion landing (Photo: Flightradar24)
Seeing pieces of interior barely holding together is definitely something disturbing when flying thousands of feet above the ground. The cause of the vibration in the cabin is resonance. It is a phenomenon that is the easiest to understand while looking at a demonstration. In short, each object and group of objects have their natural frequency of oscillations.
A passionate aviation enthusiast that started off his career as an aerospace engineer, but found his true calling on the commercial side of the airline business. Now as a finance guy among avgeeks and an avgeek among finance guys, he has experience working in the Revenue Divisions of three airlines. In his spare time he enjoys traveling, but admittedly sometimes is more about the journey than the destination.
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