China Airlines of Taiwan decided to retire A340-300 ande replaced withB777-200ER in late-2003 because of inability for A340-300 to fly Taipei - New York JFK non-stop flights, and the need to refuel at Anchorage.

The airline received its first B777-200ER in Dec 2003, and it had its 1stflight from Taipei to New York JFK.

On the Chinese New Year Day of 2004 (22 Jan 2004) a China Airlines B777-200ER flying from Taipei to JFK had to perform ETOPS landing at Verhonjansk of east Russia because of faliure of an engine. It was -40 degree Celsius at Verhonjansk, and 275 out of 288 passengers, as well as flight attendants, were died because of extreme cold during the 5-hour wait for emergency connection flight from Tokyo.

The Taiwan Civil Aviation Department investigated the diaster, and comcluded the poor maintenance of China Airlines is the cause.

The diaster caused almost all passengers booked China Airlines flights to North America changed to take EVA Air of better maintenance. Some passengers even changed to take Cathay Pacific, which has excellent maintenance and uses only 4-engined aircrafts for Asia - North America flights, though passengers have to take connection flight to Hong Kong and thus greatly increasing travelling time.

The share price of China Airlines fell at maximum rate of 6.75% per day for 30 trading days since 25 Jan 2004, the 4th day of Chinese New Year, when Taipei stock market reopens. The stock market decided to cancel the 6.75% maximum daily stock price falling / rising rate after 30 trading days, as they saw the share price of China Airlines is too high under the existing share price control system. The share price of China Airlines fell much faster since then, with price fall of 99% on 1st trading day after cancellation of price control system, and no less than 90% on the trading days since then.

Cathay Pacific finally bought China Airlines for only TWD1 (US$0.03) on 20 Apr 2004, and changed the name to Taiwan Pacific. It decided to retire all B777-200ER aircrafts, and replaced with A340-300E (200nm longer range than A340-300), A340-500 and A340-600. It also decided to send all maintenance staffs to training at HAECO, which is owned by Swire Group, the parent company of Cathay Pacific, for better maintenance quality and hence more passenger confidence. It also decided to change the airline to full Airbus fleet to reduce training cost and effort for flight crews, as well as enhancing safety.

The passenger amount of Taiwan Pacific rose sharply because of much improved safety and exclusive use of 4-engined aircrafts for Asia - North America flights, and its market share risen from 25% to 70%.

It looks like the <a href='http://avitop.com/AspNetForums/ShowPost.aspx?PostID=1781'>'Aviation novel: The Dark Christmas Day'</a>, isn't it?