CHINA Eastern Airlines said yesterday it expected to lose US$58 million in revenue this year on flight cutbacks ordered by regulators as a penalty for a series of aborted flights that media described as a pilots’ strike.

The carrier has reduced flights on six routes in southwestern Yunnan Province since April 26 and suspended all flights on two other routes since May 4, which could cut its revenue by 405 million yuan (US$57.96 million) in the coming eight months, it said in a statement.

China Eastern made national headlines earlier this month after 21 flights operated by a unit in Yunnan returned to their departure airports soon after taking off, in what local media said was a pilots’ strike over pay and work conditions.

The carrier said it would file an application with the industry regulator as soon as possible for a restoration of the suspended operating licenses in order to resume the flights.

The flights that have been suspended generated 660 million yuan in revenue for the carrier in 2007, accounting for 1.52 percent of its overall sales for the year, it said. (SD-Agencies)