Asiana Airlines seeks alternatives for cargo services, cancels more flights

Airline Industry Information, July 19, 2005

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South Korea-based Asiana Airlines has been seeking alternative ways to ship cargo for some of the biggest companies in the country as a strike caused the cancellation of all its cargo flights today (19 July).

The airline reportedly also cancelled 78 of its 163 scheduled domestic flights. A flight to Sydney, Australia was the airline's first international cancellation, The Associated Press reported.

The airline's spokesman Jason Kim said that it was working with other carriers, including Lufthansa, to find alternatives for the cargo flights.

Unionised pilots at Asiana Airlines started an indefinite strike on Sunday (17 July) after talks with management failed. As a result of the action Asiana cancelled one domestic flight on Sunday and 81 of its 168 domestic flights scheduled for Monday.

The airline also cancelled four of its seven cargo flights on Monday.

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 are reported to 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.

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