An Air China flight was cancelled at Quzhou Airport last Thursday after a first-time passenger opened an emergency exit mistaking it for the toilet. The evacuation ramp was deployed, prompting the cancellation and questioning of the passenger involved.
Air China flight faces unexpected delay
The South China Morning Post reported that an Air China flight descended into chaos last week when a new passenger accidentally activated the emergency slide by opening the exit door, thinking it was the toilet.
The mistake led to the evacuation of the entire plane and the cancellation of the flight. All of this happened in silence; the woman was looking for a toilet and no one on board noticed.
The incident left passengers and crew in shock as the slide unexpectedly deployed while the plane was still on the runway at Quzhou Airport. The plane had to be evacuated, causing major delays and disruptions to the scheduled flight to Chengdu.
Later, the first time she flew, a woman was questioned by the authorities.
She was devastated when she learned of the potential financial consequences: $28,000 for accidentally using the emergency equipment. It has also sparked online discussion threads about whether these doors open too easily, potentially leading to a similar accident in the future.
The Air China incident highlighted the problems that exist in current aircraft design and revealed clear safety risks. It highlighted the need for more extensive measures to adequately protect emergency exits and ensure that they remain easily accessible in the event of a real emergency.
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The airline expands its global reach
Air China is gearing up for the 2024 summer travel season with further development of the route network amid rising demand for domestic and international travel.
At a press conference in Beijing, the airline announced it will increase its international flights to almost pre-pandemic levels, aiming for a recovery of more than 90 percent compared to 2019.
The development also involves the launch or resumption of thirteen routes connecting major cities such as Beijing, Chengdu and Shanghai with Dhaka, Milan, Barcelona, Copenhagen and Singapore.
On the domestic front, Air China said it will increase the number of flights to famous destinations in China including Xinjiang, Chengdu, Chongqing, Shandong and Hainan, and summer resort areas such as Yunnan, Guizhou and Fujian.
The group is expected to offer an average of 1,444 daily domestic flights during the summer, 39.2 percent more than in 2019.
To further boost its global presence, Air China is working to consolidate more routes supporting the Belt and Road Initiative, which now account for nearly 60 percent of the airline’s international offerings.
The aim is to improve connectivity and trade links between Asia and other parts of the world.
In addition to this, Air China has also simplified the entire travel process. The company has developed several new services for families and students, such as family card products and enhanced services for unaccompanied minors and senior citizens.
In addition, the lounges and meals on board have also been renovated to offer all passengers a peaceful and comfortable journey.
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