Eastar Jet workers blame Jeju Air for botched merger deal

Unionized workers of Eastar Jet blamed Jeju Air for the botched merger and acquisition deal due to its "conscienceless and irresponsible" motives.

According to the union, Jet Star intends to monopolize the market by either bankrupting Eastar Jet or asking the government for more subsidies to employ some 1,600 Eastar Jet workers supposedly.

Jeju Air claimed it walked away from a 54.5 billion won merger deal due to Eastar Jet's failure to meet the deadline in fulfilling prerequisites.

The deal culminated in a controversy over issues as corporate restructuring and unpaid wages.

Market observers view the planned merger with Eastar Jet as an attempt by Jeju Air to fortify its position among South Korea's three major airlines, with Korean Air and Asiana Airlines.

Jeju Air and Eastar Jet have a combined 68 aircraft.

The union added that the government neglected the aviation industry's economic situation for three months until it severely deteriorated.