Korean Air (KAL) has suffered a new round of government sanctions on its domestic operations following the release of findings from the investigation into the recent runway overrun of a KAL Boeing MD-83.
The South Korean Government has forced KAL to cut frequencies on its Seoul-Pohang route from 35 weekly flights to 18 for six months. The government is also banning the carrier from increasing frequencies on other domestic routes, or adding new routes, for one year.
The penalty is expected to cost KAL 3 billion won ($2.5 million) in lost revenue, on top of the $30 million lost through route cuts imposed last October.
Findings from the investigation into the MD-83 overrun, at Pohang on 15 March, identify pilot error as the primary cause. Investigators say the pilot only engaged thrust reversers 27s after touchdown, instead of three to four seconds as would normally be expected. Weather conditions, including a 20kt (35km/h) tailwind and rain, also contributed.
The Pohang crash was followed by an aborted landing of a KAL Airbus A300-600R in poor weather on the island of Cheju, after touching down with one wheel off the runway. The airline then lost a Boeing MD-11 freighter shortly after take-off from Shanghai on 15 April. All three crew and at least five people on the ground were killed. This was KAL's fourth hull loss since August 1997.
Air France has joined Delta Air Lines and Air Canada in suspending its codeshare and block space arrangements with KAL.
Source: Flight International
