TAP’s brand new A330neo reportedly causing sickness in crew and passengers
Jul 15, 2019, 7:28 am
#1
Original Poster
Join Date: Aug 2018
Posts: 909
TAP’s brand new A330neo reportedly causing sickness in crew and passengers
A friend just told me that Portuguese press has been reporting several complaints from passengers and crew on brand new A330neo regarding sickness and nausea onboard. At least on one occasion, the pilots are reported to have flown and landed the plane using the oxygen masks. Crewstaff unions have threatened with a strike on A330neo service if measures are not adopted to improve the situation. Airbus has acknowledged there are issues with the AC systems and the high-pressure compressor and a task-force has been created to try remedy those issues.
Jul 15, 2019, 9:02 am
#2
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Mar 2008
Location: Netherlands
Programs: KL Platinum; A3 Gold
Posts: 29,113
Please see the Flyer Talk article from last month: Is There Something Wrong With the New A330neo?
Jul 23, 2019, 6:29 am
#3
Moderator: American AAdvantage
Join Date: May 2000
Location: NorCal - SMF area
Programs: AA LT Plat; HH LT Diamond, Maître-plongeur des Muccis
Posts: 62,946
Some crew have reported dizziness and nausea, up to vomiting, to ANAC and Airbus via their union, and some passengers are reported to have experienced these symptoms as well.
The airline states the air circulation system in the A330-900neo, for which TAP was the launch airline, is the same as used in previous A330 models and the odors are merely “new airplane smell” that goes away. TAP and Airbus both have investigated and state the cause of any possible discomfort has been cabin air temperature, not cabin air contamination or quality.
Link to “The Airbus A330neo Air Circulation System May Be Causing Illness”,
by Nick John Whittle, Simple Flying, 28 Jun 2019
Link to “Sickness and vomiting force to investigate new TAP planes”, Nuno Guedes, ANAC Plataforma, 25 Jun 2019
Link to “Naps and sickness registered by crew and passengers in new TAP airplanes – Jornal diariOnline Região Sul”, Portugal’s News, ~25 Jun 2019
Link to “Is A330neo Causing Dizziness + Vomiting?” By Matthew, Live and Let’s Fly, The Boarding Area, 27 Jun 2019
The airline states the air circulation system in the A330-900neo, for which TAP was the launch airline, is the same as used in previous A330 models and the odors are merely “new airplane smell” that goes away. TAP and Airbus both have investigated and state the cause of any possible discomfort has been cabin air temperature, not cabin air contamination or quality.
Link to “The Airbus A330neo Air Circulation System May Be Causing Illness”,
by Nick John Whittle, Simple Flying, 28 Jun 2019
Link to “Sickness and vomiting force to investigate new TAP planes”, Nuno Guedes, ANAC Plataforma, 25 Jun 2019
Link to “Naps and sickness registered by crew and passengers in new TAP airplanes – Jornal diariOnline Região Sul”, Portugal’s News, ~25 Jun 2019
The cases were communicated to the National Civil Aviation Authority (ANAC), which confirmed that they had already received reports of such occurrences, and was working with TAP to understand the origin of the problems.
The reports have also been communicated to the European Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) certifying the safety of airplanes in European airspace.
...
Regarding tests already carried out – both by TAP and Airbus – there should be no link between these episodes and any deficiency in air circulation and renewal. "In the various tests carried out by Airbus, on the ground and in flight, regarding possible sources of discomfort, such as air flow and distribution or temperature control, the results obtained were of complete compliance. A330neo is the same as the previous generation A330, "it can be read in the text of the statement sent to the press.
The reports have also been communicated to the European Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) certifying the safety of airplanes in European airspace.
...
Regarding tests already carried out – both by TAP and Airbus – there should be no link between these episodes and any deficiency in air circulation and renewal. "In the various tests carried out by Airbus, on the ground and in flight, regarding possible sources of discomfort, such as air flow and distribution or temperature control, the results obtained were of complete compliance. A330neo is the same as the previous generation A330, "it can be read in the text of the statement sent to the press.