Strike drags on at Taiwan’s EVA Air with hundreds more flights cancelled
- Cabin crew action is now longest in Taiwan’s aviation history
- Disruption set to continue through to mid-July
The strike by Taiwan’s EVA Air cabin crew is set to continue, with 550 more flights cancelled through to mid-July after negotiations on work conditions and wages broke down this week.
Flight attendants at the airline have been on strike since June 20, disrupting more than 2,000 flights and affecting about 405,000 passengers, including the latest cancellations.
The strike is now the longest in Taiwan’s aviation history and has led to an estimated NT$1.75 billion (US$56 million) loss in revenue for EVA.
“The company is still delaying. We urge them to put down their prejudices and sign an agreement with us as soon as possible,” Judy Hsiao, a media liaison officer for the union, said after 11-hour talks with EVA broke down on Tuesday.
There was no indication of any resolution early on Wednesday, with the union representing EVA flight attendants urging the firm to come back to the negotiating table, saying no renewed contacts between the parties had been initiated.
EVA said it had no comment but in a statement late on Tuesday said it had reached “some initial agreements” with the union and that “the company’s door is always open for flight attendants to come home”.