Korean Air Lines has overhauled its system for using annual leave for flight attendants. The move is aimed at ensuring cabin crew can actually take their annual leave. Since Feb., Korean Air Lines has been working to improve working conditions ahead of its merger with Asiana Airlines, including allowing flight attendants to wear glasses.
According to the aviation industry on the 26th, Korean Air Lines has increased to two rounds the survey of preferred annual leave dates for cabin crew, starting with this month's duty.
Korean Air Lines had previously collected preferred annual leave dates before drawing up monthly rosters for flight attendants to decide whether leave could be taken. When many requested the same day, some were unable to take leave.
Previously, the roster was arranged after accepting preferred dates only once. Flight attendants who wanted to use annual leave but were denied were assigned to flights as is.
The latest step addresses this by surveying those whose annual leave was denied so they can choose a different period and take leave.
Demand for annual leave typically rises during the summer vacation season, major holidays, and public holidays. For this reason, Korean Air Lines sought to manage annual leave by introducing a "points system" early this year.
Under the points system, weekdays, weekends, weekdays versus holidays, Lunar New Year, Chuseok, and the summer peak season are differentiated, with points assigned to annual leave use; those with higher points are pushed back in priority for vacation allocation.
However, there was backlash that the system made it harder for flight attendants to take annual leave. In response, Korean Air Lines indefinitely postponed the rollout of the points system.
Meanwhile, since Feb., Korean Air Lines has allowed flight attendants to wear glasses. It also improved uniform materials and pockets in response to crew requests.