China Airlines Pilot Strike Affects Thousands

The travel plans of around 4,000 passengers were up in the air on Friday as Taiwan's main air carrier, China Airlines, cancelled some flights due to a strike by its pilots.

The union organising the strike demanded better arrangements for so-called red-eye flights and that more pilots should be on board.

But the airline rejected the proposal, saying it would increase costs and undermine the company's competitiveness.

The union said it expects more pilots to take part in the action in the coming days.

In Hong Kong, the Airport Authority said five flights operated by China Airlines to and from Taipei and Kaohsiung were cancelled on Friday.

The authority said it was closely monitoring the situation, and urged passengers to check the status of their flights before going to the airport.

The Travel Industry Council said about 200 people on eight package tours to Taiwan had been affected so far.