Flight attendants push for strike, pilots demand leave – China Airlines: Passengers can get full refunds

▲China Airlines. (Photo / Reporter Chen Jun?)

Reported by Reporter Chen Ruizhong / Taipei

Due to pilots taking compensatory leave, China Airlines has canceled over 100 Taiwan-Japan flights between July and September, affecting passengers. The airline stated that for the three canceled Japan flights, it will offer free rebooking or refund options for affected travelers. Additionally, in the event of a potential future cabin crew strike, China Airlines will also provide solutions such as fee-free ticket refunds.

China Airlines said that after reaching a consensus at the third labor-management dispute mediation meeting, the company adheres to the agreement guaranteeing pilots 116 annual leave days and will complete their compensatory leave requests within the stipulated timeframe. In balancing operational needs and passenger rights, the airline has temporarily canceled flights including CI108/CI109 Taipei–Tokyo, CI194/CI195 Taipei–Sapporo, and CI152/153 Taipei–Osaka, totaling approximately over 100 flights during the two-month summer holiday period.

China Airlines also pointed out,“The cancellation of summer Japan flights” and “employees pushing for a strike” are separate situations.Regarding the three canceled Japan flights, China Airlines’ official website has published relevant policies for free rebooking or refunds, and is progressively assisting passengers in rebooking alternative flights or adjusting itineraries based on individual needs. Travelers may contact their original booking agency or any of the airline’s customer service centers.

▲Cabin crew union of China Airlines pushes for strike, which may affect flight scheduling in the future. (Photo / Reporter Ji Xiangru)

As for the cabin crew strike, China Airlines noted that since the strike date has not yet been set, the airline has not given up on continued negotiations and thus has not yet seen a significant drop in bookings or an increase in passenger refund requests due to the potential strike. Once the strike date is announced, China Airlines will first adjust cabin crew assignments for affected flights, andfor passengers who have already purchased tickets, it will arrange options according to individual preferences, including changing flight times, switching to other destinations within the same region, postponing or rescheduling, while those choosing to refund can do so without a fee.