Aviation Supplies Chiefs Ousted for Serious Violations

China has punished former top executives of state-owned China Aviation Supplies Holding Co after a drunken airport-lounge incident in Germany delayed a flight and was covered up for nearly two years.

Former chairman Ren Yu and former chief accountant Zhao Baohui were stripped of their Party and administrative posts over the episode, which took place at Frankfurt Airport on March 21, 2024, according to a notice from the Central Commission for Discipline Inspection's General Office.

Six members of the group had been drinking in an Air China business-class lounge while transiting back to China. Zhao became so intoxicated that Air China staff refused to let him board.

Ren intervened and pressed the crew to let the whole group on, delaying the flight by 68 minutes and drawing passenger complaints. Ren and Zhao also upgraded themselves to first class.

The group concealed the incident after returning home. The company's own discipline inspection chief, identified only by his surname Tang, learned what had happened in November 2024 but did not report it.

When investigators from the State-owned Assets Supervision and Administration Commission questioned the group in March 2026 – two years after the flight – Ren, Zhao and others gave false accounts. Tang passed the false information up the chain without verifying it.

Several other China Aviation Supplies officials received severe Party warnings and major administrative demerits. Tang was given the same punishment and removed from disciplinary inspection work.

Air China staff were also disciplined. The notice said operations and marketing personnel had let an intoxicated passenger board against the rules and had improperly treated the China Aviation Supplies group as VIPs, granting unauthorized cabin upgrades.

Central disciplinary authorities said officials who conceal misconduct or ignore directives on work style would face strict accountability.