Asiana Airlines to resume full services soon, report says

UNIONISED pilots of Asiana Airlines started returning to work on August 12 after a 25-day strike, but the air carrier is not expected to resume full operation until two weeks later, according to the Korean Times.



The article, which quoted the company, said that of the 400-odd pilots who participated in the strike, 33 began a two-day restoration programme before sitting at the cockpit. "The company plans to have the pilots complete the programme, which centres on safety in flight, spiritual meditation and includes a medical checkup.



"The programme is designed to help pilots restore their mental, physical and technical capabilities," Asiana labour relations manager Kim Gun said in the report.



He said that the plan was to have all of the pilots back in the cockpit in 10 or 15 days.



The company expects up to 90 per cent of its services to be available within one week and full operation after two weeks. The strike was forcibly ended on August 10 by the Labour Minister Kim Dae-hwan who invoked the right to conduct an emergency arbitration to end the industrial action and prevent it from more causing damage to the economy and from causing inconvenience to passengers during the peak summer season.