April 20, 2024

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[THE INVESTOR] A Seoul court on May 17 dismissed Asiana Airlines' appeal against the government’s flight suspension to San Francisco after a deadly runway crash at the city’s airport in 2013.

In 2014, Korea’s Transport Ministry ordered the nation’s second-largest air carrier to halt its daily flights to the US city from Incheon for 45 days as punishment for violating safety rules. Three people died and 187 others were injured in the accident. 

Asiana, however, filed a suit claiming the decision didn’t consider inconvenience of passengers traveling the route. After losing the first suit, the company filed an appeal.

Asiana said it is considering appealing to the top court. But industry watchers say it seems unlikely for the top court to overrule the decision.

If the penalty is confirmed, Asiana is expected to face about 16 billion won (US$14.20 million) losses from the flight suspension.

By Song Seung-hyun (ssh@heraldcorp.com)