The Flight of Chengdu-Chongqing Applied for Grounding of Aircraft due to Low PLF

The last flight from Chongqing to Chengdu comes to its end. Since the operation of “harmony” electricity multiple unit interconnecting Chengdu and Chongqing, it has taken a toll on Chengdu-Chongqing flight. The fact that the bus fare from Chengdu to Chongqing drops will no doubt be a fatal attack to this flight. Sources from Chongqing Division of Sichuan Airlines Co., Ltd. indicated that application for grounding of aircraft has been sent to the headquarter. A unnamed officer from Chongqing Division said that the cost can only be recovered if the passenger load factor reaches 60% or above. At present, the PLF is around 50% and declining daily after “harmony“ EMU was put into operation. The worst situation even was crews were more than passengers in a flight. As stated by an airport official, the flight course of Chengdu –Chongqing has a 19 years history. There were 8 flights flew toward Chengdu at its busiest period with three airlines operating. Since then, flights were declining yearly. And now, Sichuan Airlines is the only airline left flying this route with merely one flight daily.