China: Turnabout pilots lead to big fine

A Chinese airline has been stripped of routes and given a large fine after some of its pilots turned back flights amid suspected industrial unrest. China Eastern Airlines was punished by the country’s civil aviation authority after the incidents earlier this month.The carrier had claimed that the flights had returned to Kunming airport after take-off due to bad weather but later admitted a “human element”. Pilots had been demanding better pay, hours and working conditions.Fining China Eastern 1.5 million yuan ($215,000; £108,000) and giving some of its routes within Yunnan province to rival airlines, the carrier was told to punish those responsible and uphold safety.Source: BBC; Fina full article here>>.

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