Photo/Illutration A Jetstar Japan aircraft (Asahi Shimbun file photo)

Low-budget airline Jetstar Japan canceled two flights scheduled for Dec. 24 due to a strike that affected flight crew availability.

This is the first time flights have been canceled since the strike began Dec. 22.

The labor action is a “designated strike,” meaning the union designated specific members to stay away from work.

Jetstar said two round-trip flights between Narita and Fukuoka were canceled. Customers were rerouted to subsequent flights or refunded.

A company representative blamed the flight cancellations on “crew members suddenly falling sick.”

In the interim, the labor union announced that eight members, including the captain, would go on strike today.

Although the strikers were not scheduled to be on the flight that was canceled, it is believed the company was unable to secure replacement personnel following the labor union’s refusal to meet requests for flight crews to work on their days off.

The union had demanded partial payment of overtime wages from the company, but was unable to reach an agreement.

Sixty or so union members will go on strike one after another until Jan. 7, officials said.

The impact of the strike is likely to be greater during the year-end and New Year holidays, when more flights are scheduled to meet demand.

(This article was written by Jumpei Miura and Go Takahashi.)

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