GUANGZHOU – China Eastern expects to suffer heavy losses after the nation’s civil aviation authority revoked some of its routes as punishment for a suspected strike.
The country’s third largest carrier has been stripped of the routes from Kunming, capital of the southwestern province of Yunnan, to Xishuangbanna and Dali, two popular tourist destinations.
The Civil Aviation Administration of China has also reduced the airline’s flights from Kunming to Lijiang, as well as several provincial cities.
Flights from Kunming to Myanmar were also slashed.
The move came after 21 China Eastern flights in the province reversed course in late March and early April in what has been widely reported in the state-run press as a protest launched by the pilots in hopes for better pay.
The order, effective from May 4, transferred the rights to operate the stripped routes to several other domestic carriers, including flagship carrier Air China and private airline Lucky Air.
China Eastern said it would reapply to win back the routes as soon as possible but the suspension would reduce profits over the next eight months.
