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View of Asiana Airlines Headquarters. (Photo: Asiana Airlines) |
[Alpha Biz= Kim Jisun] Korean Air and Asiana Airlines are accelerating their merger efforts. While Korean Air has recently undertaken a major CI (corporate identity) change and system reorganization, Asiana Airlines announced plans to reduce some European routes starting next month. This move follows corrective measures from the European Union (EU) competition authorities aimed at addressing concerns about a potential monopoly on European routes due to the merger.
Asiana Airlines announced that it would reduce flights on certain European routes starting at the end of next month. The airline had previously suspended sales for these flights after its integration into Korean Air as a subsidiary on December 12 last year.
Asiana Airlines will reduce the Incheon-Rome route from 5 weekly flights to 4, effective April 25, and will cut the Incheon-Frankfurt route from 7 weekly flights to 4, starting April 30. Additionally, starting May 12, the Incheon-Paris route will be reduced from 6 weekly flights to 5.
Asiana Airlines stated that from today, it will notify passengers with existing reservations about the schedule changes, and related information will be posted on the official website. Passengers will be offered support for changing destinations or dates, refund and reissue fee waivers, and alternative flights with other airlines based on customer requests. The airline is also taking steps to minimize customer inconvenience, including compensation for losses due to schedule changes and providing compensation policies for canceled flights due to the reductions.
To manage customer inquiries, Asiana Airlines has formed a dedicated task force (TF) and will operate a hotline specifically for passengers affected by the reductions. Additionally, customers who purchased tickets through Asiana Airlines' website can change their bookings or request refunds via a dedicated email. Customers who purchased tickets through travel agencies or online travel platforms can proceed with refunds or booking changes through the respective agencies.
An Asiana Airlines representative apologized for the inconvenience, stating, "We will actively support our customers by changing their reservations to their preferred dates or providing alternative flights with other airlines to ensure there is no disruption to their travel plans."
Meanwhile, some of Asiana Airlines' European route slots (Frankfurt, Paris, and Rome) have been transferred to T'way Air, so the national carrier's capacity on European routes will be maintained.
AlphaBIZ Kim Jisun(stockmk2020@alphabiz.co.kr)
