Asiana Airlines has been ordered by the South Korean government to suspend its flights to San Francisco for 45 days, after not following safety rules that led to a crash landing July last year
Asiana Airlines Flight 214 crash landed at San Francisco International Airport last July 6, 2013 which injured 180 and claimed the lives of 3 passengers on board. It reportedly struck the seawall at San Francisco Airport while it was about to land and then crashed onto the runway.
The South Korean government boosts its efforts to improve travel safety after the Sewol ferry sank last April, which killed more than 300 people, dubbed as one of the worst maritime disasters in Asia that sparked a debate amongst the country's political leaders.
"All committee members agreed a suspension of operation was inevitable," Kwon Yong-bok, head of the ministry's aviation security division, said, according to Yonhap, a state-run news agency.
"The committee decided to reduce the duration by 50 percent, which is the maximum reduction allowed under the law, considering the sincere and dedicated evacuation efforts by the flight's crew that helped minimize casualties," he continued.
Meanwhile, in order to compensate for the hassle the flight suspension may cause, the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport requests other carriers to increase the number of flights to San Francisco "to minimize passenger inconvenience."
Asiana Airlines currently runs one flight to San Francisco every day with a 295-seat Boeing 777, and is expected to lose $13.64 million throughout the course of the suspension.
Meanwhile, the Seoul-based airline called the move "too harsh" and called for the court to withdrew the decision.
Technically, Asiana Airlines could be fined just 2.2 billion won (about $1 million), however, the South Korean government plays an iron fist in order to warn airline companies to prioritize safety above all else.
As a response, the airlines said, "The decision will cause serious passenger inconvenience given the high traffic on the route. In that case, the authorities are normally recommended by regulations to fine an airline instead of suspending flight."
