Etihad Airways Flight to Jakarta Hit Severe Turbulence Over Medan-Palembang

A footage taken from the A6-EYJ’s cabin during the heavy turbulence

Damages in the cabin of A6-EYJ after the turbulance

May 4, 2016, A6-EYJ, an Airbus A330-200 of Etihad Airways was flying from Abu Dhabi International Airport in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates to Soekarno-Hatta International Airport in Jakarta, Indonesia as flight EY474. About forty minutes before arrived at Soekarno-Hatta International Airport, A6-EYJ was flying over Medan-Palembang airspace. Suddenly, the aircraft suffered an unexpected extreme turbulence, but the aircraft landed safely at Soekarno-Hatta International Airport at 02.25 P.M, Western Indonesian Time. As the result of the turbulence, thirty-one passengers were injured and the cabin overhead storage bins suffered some damages. Later some passengers with serious injuries were taken to the hospital nearby the airport.

A6-EYJ, the Airbus A330-200 of Etihad Airways that involved in turbulence incident over Indonesia

The New Airbus A330-300 Business Class Seat of Malaysia Airlines

The new business class seat of Malaysia Airlines’ Airbus A330-300

On 23 March 2016, Malaysia Airlines, the flag carrier airline of Malaysia, operated the first flight of its Airbus A330-300 with the new business class seats from Kuala Lumpur to Sydney. The new business class seats of Malaysia Airlines Airbus A330-300 use 1-2-1 and 1-2-2 configuration while the old business class seats use 2-2-2 configuration. The new business class seats also can be reclined into a fully-flat seat. Now, Malaysia Airlines ordered 29 more Airbus A330-300 aircraft. All 29 aircraft orders are to be received by Malaysia Airlines from Singapore Airlines in 2017 and will be equipped with the new business class cabin. Now,


Malaysia Airlines has fifteen Airbus A330-300 in its fleet. Malaysia Airlines will refurbish all fifteen current Airbus A330-300 in its fleet and to be completed in September 2016. For many years, Airbus A330-300 become the Malaysia Airlines' backbone for medium to long-haul routes such as to Eastern Asia, Middle East, Middle Asia, and Australia.

The old business class seat of Malaysia Airlines’ Airbus A330-300

Philippine Airlines' Inaugural Flight to Doha

RP-C8781, one of the Airbus A330-300 aircraft of Philippine Airlines, the flag-carrier airline of Philippines touched down at Doha-Hamad International Airport, Doha, Qatar for the very first time on Monday, 28 March 2016 at 07:33 A.M, Doha time. Philippine Airlines operates this flight as flight PR656, for the Manila-Abu Dhabi-Doha sector, while the Doha-Abu Dhabi-Manila sector operated as flight PR657 by Philippine Airlines. This route has a stop at Abu Dhabi. From now, the Manila-Abu Dhabi-Doha route will be served by Airbus A330-300 by Philippine Airlines. 

RP-C8781, Philippine Airlines’ Airbus A330-300 that flew the Philippine Airlines’ first flight to Doha. Photographed at Dubai International Airport

The reason of Philippine Airlines to open this route is to compete against Cebu Pacific, the low-cost airline of Philippines and Qatar Airways, the flag-carrier airline of Qatar. Cebu Pacific operates Doha route with Airbus A330-300 while Qatar Airways operates this route with Boeing 777-300ER. Congratulations, Philippine Airlines for your inaugural flight, and good luck for the Doha route!

Airbus A330-200 Will Leave TAM Airlines This Year End

PT-MVO, a TAM Airlines Airbus A330-200 at Paris-Charles De Gaulle International Airport

TAM Airlines, the largest operator of Airbus planes in the Southern Hemisphere will phase out its Airbus A330-200 aircraft from its fleet. TAM Airlines will phase out the last Airbus A330-200 by the end of 2016. Up to date, TAM Airlines has four Airbus A330-200 aircraft in its fleet with average age 12.8 years old. To replace its Airbus A330-200, TAM Airlines ordered 15 Airbus A350-900 XWB and 12 Airbus A350-1000 XWB. TAM Airlines also ordered six newer Boeing 767-300ER from LAN Airlines. Until now, TAM Airlines has received two new Airbus A350-900 XWB.