Passengers Rush for Refunds as Pilot Strike Announced

Customers are rushing for refunds as EVA Air pilots warn of strikes over the Lunar New Year.

Transcript

00:00 With less than two weeks to go until one of Taiwan's busiest travel periods,

00:05 a planned pilot strike at EVA Air has customers changing plans and scrambling for refunds.

00:27 Taiwan's transport ministry predicts that a strike over Lunar New Year could disrupt

00:31 15,000 travellers a day. And with long-haul flights from Europe and North America being

00:37 affected, that could leave many Taiwanese hoping to get home to their families stranded

00:42 abroad.

00:43 "If we can't fly, we'll have to pay for the 14th flight. We'll have to pay for accommodation,

00:50 food and transportation. The tickets will be refunded. If we're stranded abroad, we'll

00:57 have to make arrangements for accommodation and try to get back on track."

01:05 The union also announced a strike for Tomb Sweeping Festival in March, another major

01:10 holiday in Taiwan. For months now, union pilots and EVA have locked horns over safety regulations

01:17 and pay, and there's slim hope that a deal can be reached before the Lunar New Year.

01:39 Solo travellers have already begun asking for refunds, though group passengers are unable

01:44 to apply until official notice of the strike is given, as the union has currently only

01:50 announced plans to strike.

02:04 The pilots' union have said they'll provide at least 24 hours' notice before any strike

02:10 begins, but many travellers are opting to play it safe and getting their refund requests

02:16 in early. Andy She and Rees says for Taiwan Plus.

02:20 us.

02:21 [BLANK_AUDIO]