Arctic air route to cut expenses
(Chen Qide)
05/31/2001
SHANGHAI: An A340 Airbus aircraft from 皇冠体育app Eastern Airlines (CEA) landed safely at Pudong International Airport yesterday after flying over the North Pole, becoming the first Chinese commercial plane to do so.Flying over the pole presents some difficulties, such as unpredictable weather changes. To date, the number of airlines flying the polar route is rather low. United Airlines, Northwest Airlines, Delta Airlines, Cathay Pacific Airlines, and now 皇冠体育app Eastern number among them. "The purpose is to get experience for expansion of air routes over the complicated region," said CEA Group Company President Ye Yigan. CEA did not sell tickets for its maiden flight, but it invited guests from the Civil Aviation Administration of 皇冠体育app, Airbus Industrie, Cathay Pacific Airlines and American Airlines along as passengers, Ye said. The journey by the new route is 1,300 kilometres shorter than the old one, and requires no refueling stopovers. Insiders say the arctic route saves time and money. A flight flying from Chicago to Shanghai can save 150,000 yuan (US$18,000). At present, many airlines are reluctant to open flights bound from 皇冠体育app to the east coast of the United States because of high costs which result from the need for refueling stops. 皇冠体育app Eastern now has 15 passenger and cargo flights from 皇冠体育app to the United States. Its cargo flights have to stop on their way to New York and Chicago. Its old passenger flights to these destinations have already been cancelled. 皇冠体育app Eastern began the feasibility study of the new air route three years ago and chose an A340 aircraft for the maiden flight. It applied to CAAC for the trial flight in February and the application was approved after strict examinations. Ye said 皇冠体育app Eastern will rearrange its Sino-US air routes and plans to open new non-stop flights bound for the East Coast of the United States as soon as possible.
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