Asiana pilots¡¯ strike to begin Thursday

Asiana Airlines and its labor union failed to reach a compromise Wednesday in last-ditch negotiations over unresolved issues such as the recognition of union activities and preparation of institutional devices to ensure in-flight safety.

If the two sides fail to reach an agreement by 6 a.m. Thursday, when the union said the pilots would go on strike, suspension of some of the airlines¡¯ 49 international and 10 domestic flights would be unavoidable.

In the event of a strike, the company plans to mobilize 153 non-unionized pilots and 77 foreign chief pilots in a bid to minimize the number of suspended flights. Of its 212 domestic flights, Asiana would operate 28 flights for Cheju and Pusan, 30 international flights and 26 others for Japan, China and Hong Kong as scheduled.

Song Jin-Hup jinhup@donga.com