EVA Airways, Taiwan’s second-largest carrier, on Thursday blamed Taiwan Taoyuan International Airport for the damage to one of its planes last month, saying that pieces of asphalt were flying off the runway during takeoff.
As a result, the tail of the EVA aircraft was damaged, a problem that the captain was unaware of until the plane landed in Taiyuan City in northern Mainland China, the airline said.
The broken tarmac posed a serious threat to the safety of the passengers and crew on the flight, said company Chairman Chang Kuo-wei, adding that the airport was trying to downplay the Oct. 31 incident.
The damage may cost the airline up to NT$10 million (US$306,000), Chang said, demanding that the Taoyuan airport foot the bill.
Chang, who was in Seattle to take delivery of EVA’s 22nd Boeing 777-300ER from the U.S. aviation giant, said the runway maintenance situation at the airport was “unbelievable” and should not be tolerated.
In response, the airport said it is investigating the cause of the damage to the EVA aircraft, and will take responsibility if it is found to be at fault.
The airport also said it will consult with Singapore and Hong Kong on the use of ground radar to automatically monitor runway conditions around the clock.
On Oct. 31, the captain of the EVA Air flight noticed that pieces of asphalt were flying off the runway during takeoff from Taoyuan airport and discovered on landing in Mainland China that the tail of the aircraft had been damaged.
The airline had to send another plane to pick up some 100 passengers, who were booked on the return flight to Taiwan.
CAD – China Aviation Daily
EVA Air sign LOI for Dreaminer (-10)
SEATTLE, Oct. 15, 2015 /PRNewswire/ — Boeing [NYSE:BA] today announced EVA Airways’ intent to purchase up to 24 787-10 Dreamliners and two additional 777-300ER (Extended Range) jetliners, which is valued at more than $8 billion at current list prices. EVA Airways will join the 787-10 launch customer team and will be one of the first airlines in the world to introduce the newest member of the 787 Dreamliner family.
Once the deal is finalized, it will be posted on the Boeing Orders and Deliveries website.
“We look forward to welcoming EVA Airways as Boeing’s newest member of the 787-10 Dreamliner launch customer group,” said Boeing Commercial Airplanes President and CEO Ray Conner. “EVA Airways has been a valued Boeing customer over the past few decades and we are honored that they continue to introduce new Boeing widebody airplanes into their growing world-class fleet.”
EVA Airways continues to modernize its long-haul fleet to replace aging aircraft and these new airplanes will allow the airline to expand into new markets, particularly in Southeast Asia, Oceania and North America.
The airline currently operates more than 37 Boeing airplanes in its fleet, including 21 777-300ERs. The 777-300ER is the backbone of EVA Airways’ growing fleet and the carrier is the world’s 8th largest 777-300ER operator and 4th largest in Asia.
With its intent to purchase two additional 777-300ERs as part of this deal, EVA Airways will have unfilled orders for 15 777-300ERs and five 777 Freighters, as well as 24 787-10s – both direct purchased and leased.
The 787-10 will be the third and longest member of the super-efficient 787 family. With its greater passenger and cargo capacity, robust range and passenger-pleasing features, the 787-10 will complement EVA’s Boeing widebody fleet while setting a new benchmark for fuel efficiency and operating economics. The 787-10 will be 25 percent better in fuel and emissions than the airplanes it replaces and more than 10 percent better than anything offered by the competition for the future.
Boeing