Korean Air grappling with maintenance lapses

Korean Air has been grappling with a series of maintenance lapses in recent weeks, which have forced some of its planes to return to airports after take-off. These incidents have greatly inconvenienced passengers and raised public concern over the carrier's operational safety, dealing a blow to company president Walter Cho who took control of the carrier Jan 11. Korean Air's aging fleet has become more prone to various safety-related malfunctions, according to analysts, who said poor maintenance makes things go from bad to worse. One airline industry official, said: "The carriers these days are beginning to deal with a growing number of maintenance-related problems in line with the aging of their airplanes." However, analysts also said Korean Air and other airlines have become more sensitive toward safety-related issues.<br/>