"Avoided Summer Vacation Flight Chaos"... Asiana-Airline Pilots Union Reaches Tentative Wage Agreement

Suspension of Industrial Action from the 19th

Asiana Airlines announced on the 19th that it has reached a tentative agreement on wage negotiations with the pilots' labor union. Strike actions are expected to be suspended starting today.

At the 26th labor-management negotiation held at Asiana Airlines headquarters the previous day, Asiana Airlines and the pilots' union agreed to a 2.5% increase in base salary and a 2.5% increase in flight allowances for the years 2019 to 2022. After explanatory meetings and a vote, the final agreement is expected to be reached in two weeks.

[Image source=Yonhap News]

The tentative agreement includes an increase in flight allowances, a 50% payment of safety incentives, and an expansion of additional welfare benefits. The criteria for additional allowances for pilots of small and medium-sized aircraft will also be lowered. This allowance, previously given to pilots who flew a certain number of hours, will now benefit not only large aircraft pilots but also small and medium-sized aircraft pilots.

A representative of the Asiana Airlines pilots' union stated, “Strike actions will be tentatively suspended starting today.” After about three days of explanatory meetings, a vote will be conducted by next week.

Since this agreement pertains to wage negotiations during the COVID-19 period (2019?2022), negotiations for this year's wages are also expected to begin soon.

An Asiana Airlines official said, “We welcome the tentative agreement reached between labor and management,” adding, “With this agreement, we aim to build a cooperative labor-management relationship and ensure safe operations during the peak vacation period.”