New Chief of China’s Airline Vows Changes
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PEKING — The new boss of China’s national airline CAAC, known at home and abroad for its appalling service, has promised a thorough overhaul to raise standards and ensure safety.
Hu Yizhou said CAAC plans to buy about $1 billion worth of new planes, upgrade airport facilities and improve training.
Hu, 57, an aviation engineer, last month replaced former Director General Shen Tu, who had held the post since 1978 despite complaints about CAAC’s service and safety.
The airline faces a drastic reorganization this year aimed at breaking up its national monopoly and creating several regional airlines. The need for change was underlined in January when one of its aging Soviet-built Antonov 24 planes crashed, killing 38 people.
Hu said the key to restructuring was the separation of CAAC’s administrative function as China’s civil aviation authority from the operational side.
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