S.Korea to Vet Airline Safety Systems

Dec. 31, 2010
Government to check how the country's six airlines conduct and assess their own safety, and manage safety problems.

The inspection, slated to start from Monday till March, comes amid a recent outcrop of airplane breakdowns, flight cancellations and delays, though national flag carriers have not reported any accidents since 1999, according to the Ministry of Land, Transport and Maritime Affairs.

The government will check how the country's six airlines conduct and assess their own safety, and manage safety problems, the ministry said, adding their vulnerable areas of safety will also be subject to inspections.

"The planned inspection is designed to help stem airplane accidents and improve airlines safety management systems," a ministry official said.

Asiana Airlines (KSE:020560), the country's second-largest airline, will be inspected from Monday, with top local carrier Korean Air (KSE:003490) scheduled to undergo an audit in January. Air Busan and three other budget carriers will undergo inspections in February and March, the ministry said.

(Yonhap) ms

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