Asiana pilots union tentatively agrees to wage deal

Amicable outcome: An Asiana aircraft parked at the Daegu International Airport, South Korea. The airline’s decision won’t adveresly affect the travel demand of people going on summer holidays. — AP

SEOUL: Asiana Airlines Inc, South Korea’s second-largest carrier by sales, says it has reached a tentative wage deal with its pilots’ union for the 2019 to 2022 period.

The tentative agreement came after two international and 10 domestic flights were cancelled as around 100 Asiana pilots began a work-to-rule protest on June 7 for higher wages.

Pilots only did what is stipulated by company policies and rules during the work-to-rule campaign. The campaign includes such tactics as the “overuse” of jet fuel and “excessive” maintenance work and flight disruptions, causing delays.

Asiana pilots have accepted a 2.5% increase in basic pay, an increased flight allowance, 50% of basic pay in cash incentive, and improved welfare benefits, the company said in a statement.

The pilots originally demanded a 10% increase in basic pay for the four-year period as there was no wage increase due to the Covid-19 pandemic. It was far higher than the company’s proposed 2.5% rise for the period.

Other unionised workers, except for pilots, have already accepted the 2.5% wage increase for the pandemic-hit period.

The pilots’ union was planning to begin a strike this week, raising concerns over the planned walkout’s impact on passengers planning to travel, businesses that transport their products via aircraft and the tourism industry.

Airlines usually prepare for a sharp increase in travel demand as people take trips for summer holidays from the middle of July through the end of August. — The Korea Herald/ANN