South Korean court upholds 45-Day ban on Asiana's San Francisco flights

South Korea's Supreme Court upheld Thursday a govt decision to suspend Asiana Airlines' Incheon-San Francisco route for 45 days, adding to the debt-ridden carrier's headaches as it battles rising competition and falling demand. The transport ministry suspended Asiana Airlines' once-daily US bound flight as a penalty linked to its deadly plane crash in San Francisco in 2013. Asiana had sought a court injunction against the measure. The Supreme Court said insufficient staff training was the main cause of the crash and the govt's punishment was legitimate. The flight ban will be implemented before the end of February, the transport ministry said. Asian said the punishment would cost it about US$9.3m in lost sales. <br/>