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Tags: Airport Hell / China Eastern Airlines / LAX / → All Tags

Shanghai-Bound Passengers Stranded for Three Days at LAX

We knew LAX has delays, but this has to be one of the worst we've ever heard of.

Dozens of travelers have been stranded at the airport for more than two days after their Shanghai-bound flight was delayed. The China Eastern Airlines flight was scheduled to depart 1:30 p.m. on Sunday, but passengers sat on the plan for several hours before being asked to deboard because the plane was experiencing mechanical trouble. A second attempt was made Monday, when passengers reboarded the plane, sat on the tarmac for another hour, traveled a whopping 100 feet and then were told to return to the terminal.

The airline is paying for hotels and food, but passengers are peeved that CEA has refused to book them on another airline or provide a more thorough explanation. After leaving the plane for the second time Monday, they even staged a mini sit-in, refusing to leave the airport terminal.

On Tuesday evening, the airline flew in a mechanic from China and finally got the plane ready for takeoff -- at 10:54pm -- a three-day ordeal overall. But by this time, we wouldn't be trusting the mechanics anymore than on the first day.

Related Stories:
· China-bound passengers stranded at LAX [LAT]
· Flight leaves LA after nearly 3-day delay [Mercury News]
· JAL Engine Incident Proves Airlines Do Eat Your Luggage [Jaunted]

[Photo: balajijegan]

Tags: Meltdownomics / Air China / China Eastern Airlines / China Southern Airlines / → All Tags

China's Airlines Stick Their Hands In The Pot

Airlines in China are queuing up with the rest of the country’s companies for a ladleful of life-saving capital. Looks like now’s the time to see if this communism thing really works!

In addition to China’s already announced 4 trillion yuan ($586 billion) economic stimulus package, Air China and the other big Chinese airlines are seeking industry-specific government aid to cope with their losses. Even the mention of the bailout sent shares of China’s three biggest carriers soaring. According to Reuters, China Eastern Airlines and China Southern Airlines were each likely to receive 3 billion yuan, or $439 million.

No word on whether the extra cash will prompt these carriers to trade in the rubbery meat they try to pass off as chicken, but we’re guessing, per usual, the passenger will be the last one to reap the benefits of any eventual government infusions of cash.

Related Stories:
· Chinese Airlines Look to Beijing for Help [Reuters, via IHT]
· China Travel coverage [Jaunted]

[Photo: msitting]