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Photo courtesy of Yonhap News |
[Alpha Biz= Kim Jisun] Korean Air has unveiled its HR integration policy following its merger with Asiana Airlines, stating that employee seniority will be determined based on original hire dates.
According to the aviation industry on the 29th, Korean Air held briefing sessions for pilots from both airlines on April 28, outlining its personnel integration plan. The policy aligns pay, benefits, and evaluation systems with Korean Air’s existing framework, including adjustments to allowances that had been more favorable at Asiana.
The company plans to assign new employee IDs to Asiana staff based on their original hire dates to integrate seniority systems. However, the move has sparked resistance, particularly among pilot unions, which argue the plan was announced unilaterally without proper consultation.
Differences in hiring standards are also fueling concerns. For example, Korean Air requires over 1,000 flight hours for first officer recruitment, compared to about 300 hours at Asiana, while cabin crew training periods also differ significantly.
Korean Air said it will apply differentiated promotion standards to account for such discrepancies, but acknowledged the complexity of establishing a universally acceptable system.
The airline is pushing ahead with integration efforts to meet merger timelines, despite ongoing labor tensions. The pilot union has declared a breakdown in negotiations and is seeking the right to strike, insisting that seniority rules be included in formal bargaining.
Concerns have also emerged among cabin crew and other staff that separate management of promotions and training opportunities for up to three years post-merger could disadvantage existing Korean Air employees.
Alphabiz Reporter Kim Jisun(stockmk2020@alphabiz.co.kr)
