Asiana Airlines Pilots Union Sends Letter to EU Opposing Corporate Merger

The Asiana Airlines Pilots' Union has sent a letter to the European Union (EU) competition authorities opposing the corporate merger with Korean Air.

According to the Asiana Airlines Pilots' Union on the 9th, the union sent an official letter to the EU Commission the day before stating "We oppose Korean Air's acquisition and urge the pursuit of a third-party sale."

An Asiana Airlines aircraft is taking off from the runway at Incheon International Airport.
[Image source=Yonhap News]

The union also delivered the same letter to the 'Star Alliance Pilots Association' (ASAP), a pilots' group of the airline alliance to which Asiana Airlines belongs.

In February, the EU conditionally approved the corporate merger on the premise of separating and selling Asiana Airlines' cargo business. Korean Air aims to complete the sale process within this year and obtain final approval.

The union explained the reason for sending the letter, saying, "We requested three meetings to discuss employment and treatment after the merger with Korean Air, but were ignored," and added, "Korean Air is pushing forward with a merger that causes job insecurity for Asiana Airlines workers."

In particular, the union criticized Korean Air for selecting Air Incheon as the preferred bidder for the cargo sale, saying it is trying to sell to a small airline that cannot grow into a future competitor.

Some cargo pilots have stated that they would even resign if employment succession to Air Incheon becomes a reality. Currently, about 70 out of approximately 200 pilots have submitted resignation letters to the union.

Korean Air explained the selection of Air Incheon as the preferred bidder for the cargo business by saying, "We considered various consortia with financial capabilities to maintain and develop the long-term competitiveness of the Korean air cargo business."

Meanwhile, the Asiana Airlines Pilots' Union and the general union plan to hold a joint press conference opposing the merger on the 11th at the Korean Confederation of Trade Unions in Jung-gu, Seoul.