Meal Service Interruption

[Anchor Lead]

Asiana Airlines’ in-flight meal service catering company says it’s scrambling to meet its production quota, but say that it will take much longer to supply the meals at the level prior to the current chaos. Here’s more.

[Pkg]

Employees of Asiana's in-flight catering company are busy trying to keep up with the allotment. Some are working through the night to meet the demands.

[Soundbite] Employee of In-flight Catering Company (Voice modified): My shift should end at 2:20 PM, but I have to work until 10 and then do extra work until later. Some come in at 6 AM, but can't leave until 6 the next day.

The work now proceeds faster as they started preparing simpler meals since yesterday, but it's still difficult to make the same menus as before. The employees complain the work environment different from the previous facility is further slowing down production.

[Soundbite] Employee of In-flight Catering Company (Voice modified): It's difficult to make 30,000 meals because the place is too cramped. We haven't been able to settle down yet this week.

The facility, capable of producing only 3,000 meals per day, is ill-equipped to handle the increased volume and packaging. Asiana announced in-flight meals have been loaded onto all planes, starting yesterday, but it will be a while before full meal services are available again.