Heard from reliable sources that KAL had lost some 30% of their cargo business in China.
Another more disturbing news is that their recent, unreported conflict with the big chaebol Samsung with respect to carriage of Samsung " ready as required " on time shipping of their products; apparently Samsung has sworned off using KAL services ever again!
There are rumours that many B744 expat pilots' contracts will not be renewed and people are scrambling to get an A320 rating to get a foot into Chinese Airlines currently paying much more flying the baby bus in the Chinese mainland.
Langkauska.....your intel is correct. KAL is not renewing contracts for several 744 foreign captains(riff raff). Meanwhile their recruiting is interviewing and hiring foreigners they would not even have considered 4 years ago. Take the cutltural/language difficulties and mix with less experienced captains and you have a self-fulfilling prophecy. (We told you these foreigners were lousy pilots). In 2008 KAL was fined $200 million for price fixing of cargo rates along with some other airlines. They were also fined for similar practices down in Oceania. In 2008 even with the fine they still showed a small profit. The expats contract delineated a cost of living raise if the airline made a profit. NADA!! Contracts mean nothing. Remember these are ethical honest people you are dealing with. They constantly tell the contract pilots "a contract is a contract" (particularly when it is to their advantage).
Their less than ethical business practices are coming full the circle. The chickens may finally be coming home to roost. Well deserved.