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[Alpha Biz=(Chicago) Reporter Kim Jisun] Asiana Airlines' pilot union has opposed Korean Air's merger and acquisition of Asiana Airlines.
"The KDB should immediately stop handing over slots, which are tangible and intangible assets of the state and the people, to foreign countries," the Asiana pilots' union said in a statement on the 26th, expressing concerns that the KDB could create a monopoly system for Korean Air under the pretext of mergers and acquisitions.
The Asiana pilots' union claimed, "The Korea Development Bank is handing over transportation rights, which are assets of the nation and the people, as well as Asiana Airlines, to foreign countries without any resistance, and is now trying to sell the cargo sector, a major pillar of Asiana Airlines, separately."
According to industry sources, Korean Air is preparing a "passenger slot adjustment plan" that includes selling the entire Asiana Airlines' cargo division and returning four of its 14 European routes. The four routes to be returned this time are said to be likely to be Incheon-Paris, Incheon-Frankfurt, Incheon-Roman, and Incheon-Barcelona, where Korean Air and Asiana Airlines operate in duplicate. Korean Air said, "We plan to finalize and submit corrective measures by the end of October at the latest."
The Asiana pilot's union urged Asiana Airlines to fully preserve its competitiveness, including slot and cargo sectors, and push for the sale of a third party, not Korean Air.
AlphaBIZ 김지선(stockmk2020@alphabiz.co.kr)
