Commercial airline pilots move to China for higher pay

By Kim Se-jeong

Pilots at Korean commercial airline companies are quitting and moving to Chinese airlines at an alarmingly fast pace for higher pay and better working conditions.

According to data submitted by the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport to Rep. Byun Jae-ill of the New Politics Alliance for Democracy during a National Assembly audit, Thursday, a total of 217 Korean pilots left their jobs at Korean carriers between January and September.

In September alone, 42 quit. Among the 42, 19 were employees of Asiana Airlines, followed by 18 from Korean Air, the nation’s two flagship carriers, and five from low-budget carriers.

For Korean Air, the exodus worsened after the “nut rage” case last December where former executive Heather Cho used abusive language and violence against crewmembers on a plane bound from New York to Incheon. The number of pilots who left Korean Air between January and September this year was 79.

“Among them, almost 40 went to Chinese airlines,” a member of the Korean Air Pilots Union, who identified himself only by his surname Lee, said. “They are mostly in their 40s, two to three years into the captain position. They could be important assets for Korean Air.”

It is said that the salaries offered by the Chinese airlines are at least three times higher than what Korean companies pay.

On average, an airline captain from Korean Air receives $10,000 per month before taxes. “Chinese airlines offer almost $20,000 after taxes, and they also cover the costs of living and education for children,” Lee said.

Relatively poor working conditions at Korean airlines are another cause of the pilots leaving, he noted, as pilots here have complained about long flight hours and inadequate rests in between. They criticized management for jeopardizing the safety of passengers.

“As far as I know, almost 100 pilots have been interviewed by Chinese companies and are waiting to get their results,” Lee said.

China has more than 100 airlines, including local ones.

He said the trend of pilots moving to China began about a year ago, and “it will pose a serious problem to Korean airlines if it persists for another three to five years.”

Acknowledging the seriousness of the problem, lawmakers talked about it with pilots and airline company officials at the parliamentary audit.

“They are an indispensable asset for Korea,” said Rep. Byun. “We need to come up with ways to stop this drain of technical expertise.”

A Korean Air official said the company is filling vacancies by hiring foreign pilots, offering exceptionally high salaries to attract them for a couple of years. But as far as a long-term solution goes, the official said the company is not ready to comment.