Korean Air, Asiana lose veteran pilots to Chinese rivals

[THE INVESTOR] Korea’s flag carriers Korean Air and Asiana Airlines are losing veteran pilots to their fast-growing Chinese rivals in recent times.
According to the companies on July 12, Korean Air lost 46 pilots last year to Chinese airlines, compared to nine combined in 2013 and 2014.

Its smaller rival Asiana said it also saw the number more than doubling from six in 2014 to 15 last year. 

Chinese air carriers are pouring resources to attract veteran pilots as they suffer from a lack of experienced pilots amid their fast expansion in recent years.

Even though some 2,000 to 3,000 pilots are nurtured every year in the country, it takes more than 10 years for them to be trained enough to become a captain.

And due to cultural similarities, Korean pilots are favored among foreign pilots, industry watchers say.

Chinese companies also offer generous benefits. Pilots with more than 10 years of experience are usually offered an annual salary of 200 million won (US$170,000) to 300 million won, which compares to some 150 million won pay at Korea’s major airlines.

There is also a huge difference in flight time. In Korea, pilots are required to fly up to 1,050 hours per year, compared to 850 hours in China.

By Lee Ji-yoon (jylee@heraldcorp.com)