Younger workers exit Asiana amid uncertainties due to Korean Air's acquisition

Younger employees at Asiana Airlines have left the carrier more than any other age group, largely due to concerns about job security stemming from the firm's long-delayed acquisition by Korean Air, data showed Sunday. The acquisition plan was announced in November 2020, but it has encountered multiple obstacles in obtaining official approvals from foreign authorities since then. Unlike other airlines, cash-strapped Asiana effectively suspended new hiring activities during this period. This has triggered the steady outflow of the firm’s workforce over the past few years. Asiana Airlines' environmental, social, and governance (ESG) report indicates that the total number of employees was 8,698 in 2021. However, this number has been steadily declining, reaching just 8,045 by 2023. The airline recruited new flight attendants in August for the first time in almost five years. The COVID-19 pandemic had previously compelled the company to adopt a belt-tightening approach, resulting in a freeze on new hires. By age group, the number of employees in their 20s and 30s dropped sharply from 2021 to 2023. In 2021, approximately 4,500 employees were under 40, but this number fell to under 3,600 by 2023. In contrast, the number of employees aged over 40 gradually increased during the same period.<br/>