Foreign Korean Air pilots to take 3 months of unpaid leave

Korean Air Lines is set to put all of its non-Korean pilots on a three-month unpaid leave starting next month in a self-rescue effort amid worsening business conditions caused by the coronavirus outbreak. Under the measure, 387 pilots are expected to go on mandatory unpaid leave from April 1 to June 30, an industry source said Tuesday. Around 60 of them have already been off without pay, the source added. "(The measure) is aimed at adjusting workforce following a sharp reduction in operations and entry restrictions in countries," a company official said, adding that the company factored in how foreign national employees will be more liable to tightened border restrictions. Korean Air has suspended most of its flights on international routes as an increasing number of countries close their borders or tighten entry procedures.<br/>