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Cridland appointed to senior CAL post for maintenance

China Airlines Ltd (CAL, 華航) announced the appointment of Derek Cridland as senior vice president of engineering and maintenance yesterday, in an effort to strengthen its maintenance sector after one of its aircraft exploded at Okinawa's Naha Airport in August.

"It is expected that his proven leadership and wealth of international experience will bring an added dimension to the national carrier of Taiwan," the airline said in a statement.

EXPERIENCE

Cridland joined CAL as an adviser in March, after spending 25 years with Cathay Pacific Airways. He had served as Cathay Pacific's engineering director from 1998 until last year, CAL said in the statement.

Cridland also served at British Airways, and later joined the International Civil Aviation Organization -- a UN body that develops standards for aviation safety -- based in West Indies and Indonesia.

"I am confident that we will be able to deliver a consistent world-class product which will satisfy our passengers' highest expectations," Cridland said in the statement.

His appointment came less than a week after president Ringo Chao (趙國帥) took over the chairmanship from Philip Wei (魏幸雄) last Wednesday. Wei had resigned to take responsibility for the Okinawa accident.

Upon taking the helm, Chao stressed his commitment to continuing the innovation of CAL's corporate culture and improving its flight safety.

SALES RISE

CAL said yesterday that its sales increased 5.94 percent last month year-on-year to NT$10.74 billion (US$329.54 million).

Revenue for the first three quarters totaled NT$93.54 billion, up 5.28 percent from last year.

Despite the increased sales, its profits this year could be affected by the Okinawa accident and the soaring oil prices.

Shares of China Airlines rose 2.14 percent to close at NT$14.3 yesterday on the Taiwan Stock Exchange.
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