Korean airlines to recruit 3,500 new workers this year: sources

South Korea's airlines will hire more than 3,500 workers this year as they move to serve ever rising numbers of air passengers, industry sources said Wednesday. Korean Air Lines said it will recruit more than 1,000 new workers, noting that it will fly 17 new flights this year. The carrier said it accepted 1,050 new workers last year, including 600 cabin crew members, 200 pilots and 250 technicians and office workers. Korean Air plans to add 17 new planes -- nine CS300 short-haul aircrafts as well as four B787-9 and four B777-300ER long-range jets -- to its fleet this year. Moreover, its joint venture with Delta, which is awaiting approval from authorities, will allow the carrier to serve more cities in the US and Asia. Asiana said it will employ up to 500 new workers this year, including 250 cabin crew members, 100 pilots and 150 office workers and technicians. Asiana Airlines said it will fly two more A350s this year with the aim of launching new air routes to Venice in April and Barcelona in August. The country's six low-cost carriers -- Jin Air, Jeju Air, Air Busan, Air Seoul, Eastar Jet and T'way Air -- also have plans to increase hiring. <br/>