More Meal Controversy

[Anchor Lead]

Asiana Airlines’ flight attendants have borne much of the brunt of the backlash over the in-flight meal fiasco, as images have surfaced of them kneeling in front of hungry and angry passengers. More anger erupted at the airline as it emerged that a flight carrying the chief of the owning conglomerate was provided with meals even as other flights were not.

[Pkg]

Passengers are frustrated over the shortage of in-flight meals in some of Asiana Airlines' international flights from early this week.

[Soundbite] Passenger/Asiana Airlines : "I purposely chose to fly Asiana. I have a child and I heard there will be no dinner served. I'm worried."

Some passengers even curse and swear.

[Soundbite] Passenger/Asiana Airlines (Voice modified)): "Take me out if you want. You should know to be sorry!"

Flight attendants are busy apologizing and dealing with the aftermath. They are angry at the lack of any kind of guidelines from the company on how to respond.

[Soundbite] Flight Attendant/Asiana Airlines (Voice modified)): "The company told the cabin chiefs to deal with the ituation on their own accordingly. I'm so angry about this whole trauma and afraid of how tomorrow will play out."

However meals were provided on a flight last Sunday to Qingdao, China and a Wednesday flight headed to Paris. Those planes were carrying Kumho Asiana Group Chairman Park Sam-koo, his daughter-in-law and grandson. Airline employees are fuming over this glaring discrimination in their online group chat room. Following the controversy, Asiana explained the flights were not treated in a special way because the chairman was on board. On Wednesday alone, in-flight meals were not provided on 24 Asiana flights that departed from Incheon International Airport. The number adds up to 170 flights so far over the past 4 days.