Manufacturing Industry

Asiana Airlines apologises for strike disruption

Airline Industry Information, August 16, 2005

South Korea's Asiana Airlines has published a national apology for the disruption caused by recent strike action.

Unionised pilots at the airline started their strike on 17 July, calling for more rest days between flights, an increase of the retirement age from 55 to 60, and a greater say in management decisions. The action forced Asiana to cancel over 2,000 domestic and international flights and about 90% of its cargo services.

The pilots only returned to work when the South Korean government used emergency powers to stop the strike for 30 days. The union and airline management are expected to resume negotiations within the next couple of days, an Asiana spokesman said.

In a notice printed in major South Korean newspapers, Asiana's holding company expressed its "deepest apologies for causing great inconvenience to the public as a result of the prolonged walkout".

If the pilots and the airline fail to reach an agreement the National Labour Relations Commission has the authority to impose the terms of a settlement.

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