Asiana Airlines pilots launch strike action

Airline Industry Information, July 18, 2005

AIRLINE INDUSTRY INFORMATION-(C)1997-2005 M2 COMMUNICATIONS LTD

On Sunday (17 July) unionised pilots at South Korean carrier Asiana Airlines started an indefinite strike.

As a result of the action, which was launched after talks with management failed, Asiana cancelled 81 of its 168 domestic flights scheduled for Monday. One domestic flight had been dropped on Sunday.

The airline said that it planned to operate all of its 115 international flights on Monday, however four of the carrier's seven cargo flights were cancelled.

It is the second strike by the pilots in less than two weeks.

More than half of the airline's pilots are union members. They have a number of demands, including more rest days between flights, an increase of the retirement age from 55 to 60, and a greater say in management decisions, reported The Associated Press.

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