In the first instance where a Shanghai court has ordered a domestic airline to reimburse passengers for a flight delay, China Eastern has been ordered to refund 10% of the airfare for 20 passengers. Each passenger will receive an average of RMB135.

In July 2004, those 20 passengers bought air tickets for a China Eastern flight from Shanghai Hongqiao Airport to Hohhot in Inner Mongolia. The flight was scheduled to depart at 2:35pm, but it was delayed until 8:07pm due to a thunderstorm.

China Eastern had appealed an earlier decision by the court, because the airline believes that the delayed was caused by bad weather. China Eastern also said that it provided food and drinks for the passengers during the delay.

However the court said it believes that the airline company is obligated to take the passengers to their destinations within the scheduled time frame. Therefore, China Eastern's appeal was turned down.