By Lee Kyung-min
Asiana Airlines asked the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transportation on Monday to reconsider a 45-day suspension of flights to San Francisco, slapped on the airline last week as punishments for a crash in July last year.
Asiana also asked the ministry to replace the head of its disciplinary panel that discusses penalties against airline.
“The panel was convened abruptly, and we cannot trust the fairness of the panel head’s decision,” Asiana said in a statement.
The company claimed the panel had already decided to suspend flights even before a disciplinary meeting was convened.
“We also demand that a new panel deliberate the issue, and we expect it to be fair unlike the previous one,” Asiana added.
It claimed the suspension fell far short of global standards.
“Korea is the only country that uses flight suspension as a penalty on an airline for a flight accident. It’s excessive,” Asiana said.
The airline had asked for a fine, claiming that suspensions caused havoc among airlines.
Asiana said that unless its demands were accepted, it would file an administrative suit, and ask the Board of Audit and Inspection to investigate the case.
The airline said the 45-day suspension would cost it 15 billion won ($13 million).
The U.S. National Transportation Safety Board concluded in June that pilot error was the main cause of the crash, which left three dead and 180 injured.
The suspension will start from a date of Asiana’s choosing.