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Korean Air

Flag carrier and largest airline of South Korea.

Korean Air, owned by Hanjin Group, operates as the flag carrier of South Korea. It has a strong global presence with a large fleet and international destinations. The airline has a history dating back to 1969 and is a member of SkyTeam alliance. Korean Air has made significant improvements in its safety record over the years and is one of the top-ranked international cargo airlines.

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Timeline

1946
Korean Air
Korean Air is the flag carrier airline of South Korea. It operates domestic and international flights on 5 continents.
1949
Korean Air
Korean Air is the flag carrier airline of South Korea. It is one of the largest airlines in Asia.
1960
Hanjin granted an air transportation license
In 1960, Hanjin was granted an air transportation license, which proved important in its later expansion in the air transportation sector.
1962
Foundation of Korean Air Lines
Korean Air Lines was founded as a state-owned company in 1962 under the name Korean Air Lines and was later privatized in 1969. It has since become the largest airline in South Korea and a key air carrier in Asia.
1969-03-01
Korean Air established
Korean Air, the flag carrier airline of South Korea, was established on March 1, 1969.
1970-03
Establishment of Korean Air
In March 1970, Korean Air was established after the acquisition of the state-owned Korean Air Lines.
1971-04-26
Introduction of Long-haul Trans-pacific Freight Operations
On April 26, 1971, Korean Air introduced long-haul trans-pacific freight operations, expanding its services and operations.
1972-04-19
Commencement of Passenger Services to Los Angeles International Airport
On April 19, 1972, Korean Air commenced passenger services to Los Angeles International Airport, further expanding its international presence.
1973
SkyPriority
SkyPriority, introduced by Korean Air in 1973, offers exclusive services for elite passengers, providing priority check-in, boarding, and baggage handling.
1974
Korean Air's 50th anniversary
Korean Air celebrated its 50th anniversary, showcasing its long-standing presence and success in the aviation industry.
1975-03
First Passenger Route to the Americas
In March 1975, the first passenger route to the Americas was launched, connecting Seoul, Tokyo, Honolulu, and Los Angeles. This marked a significant milestone in the airline's history.
1976-12
Passenger Route to Paris
In December 1976, Korean Air launched a passenger route to Paris, serving as a gateway to Europe. This expansion further solidified the airline's global presence.
1979-03
Completion of Helicopter Plant in Gimhae
In March 1979, the helicopter plant in Gimhae, which is currently known as the Busan Tech Center, was completed.
1980
Launch of Passenger Route to New York
In 1980, Korean Air launched a passenger route to New York.
1981-12
Opening of Exclusive Korean Air Cargo Terminal at Los Angeles Airport
In December 1981, an exclusive Korean Air cargo terminal was opened at Los Angeles Airport.
1983-09-01
Korean Air Flight 007 Shot Down
Korean Air Flight 007 was shot down by the Soviet Union on September 1, 1983. All 269 people on board were killed, including a sitting U.S. Congressman, Larry McDonald.
1986
Supplying parts for Boeing 747-400
In 1986, Korean Air Lines became one of the first airlines to supply Boeing with parts for its aircraft, in the form of a contract to deliver wing-tip extensions for the Boeing 747-400.
1988-08
Establishment of Korean Air headquarters in Seosomun
In August 1988, Korean Air established its headquarters in Seosomun, marking a pivotal moment in the airline's organizational structure.
1990
Expansion of Fleet to 72
In 1990, the airline's fleet expanded to 72 aircraft, demonstrating a remarkable growth in its operational scale and capacity.
1991
First scheduled flight to Moscow
In 1991, Korean Air Lines operated its first scheduled flight from Seoul to Moscow, marking a milestone in its expansion.
1992
Leadership Succession at KAL
In 1992, Cho Yang Ho succeeded his father as president of Korean Air, facing the challenge of navigating the company through a $5 billion debt and potential Korean unification. This leadership transition marked a crucial period for the company's future.
1994-12
Korean Air Flying School Graduation
The first pilots graduated from Korean Air Flying School, marking a significant milestone in the development of aviation expertise in South Korea.
1996
Financial Losses Begin
In 1996, Korean Air experienced financial losses for the first time, amounting to $235.5 million. This marked the beginning of a challenging period for the company's financial stability.
1998
Korean Air's Profit Announcement
In 1998, Korean Air announced a profit of 250 billion won, which was attributed to the company's aircraft purchases and sales of older aircraft in 1997. The results were seen as justifying the company's decisions and reflecting the potential of the Asian and Pacific traffic in the future.
2000-06-23
Korean Air Co-founds SkyTeam Alliance
On 23 June 2000, Korean Air, along with Aeroméxico, Air France, and Delta Air Lines, founded the world's major airline alliance, SkyTeam. This was a significant event that marked Korean Air's collaboration with other major airlines.
2001
FAA Downgrades South Korea's Aviation Safety Rating
In 2001, the Federal Aviation Administration downgraded South Korea's aviation safety rating and blocked South Korean carriers from expanding into the United States due to the country and its carriers' failure to improve sufficiently following a warning the previous year. This had a significant impact on South Korean carriers, including Korean Air.
2002
Korean Air's Safety Improvements Recognized
In 2002, Korean Air's safety improvements were recognized as the airline invested billions of dollars to improve safety, upgrade its fleet, install new technology, and overhaul its corporate culture. This marked a turning point for the airline in terms of safety and reputation.
2004
Top Ranking in International Air Cargo Transportation
In 2004, Korean Air achieved the top ranking in international air cargo transportation, as recognized by the International Air Transport Association (IATA).
2005-06
Establishment of Cabin Crew Training Center
In June 2005, Korean Air established a cabin crew training center to enhance the skills and professionalism of its flight attendants.
2007-06-05
Korean Air Establishes Low-cost Carrier Jin Air
On 5 June 2007, Korean Air announced the creation of a new low-cost carrier called Jin Air in Korea to compete with Korea's KTX high-speed railway network system. This move aimed to offer cheaper fares and less stringent security procedures compared to air travel.
2011-05
Introduction of First A380-800
In May 2011, the first A380-800 aircraft was introduced by the company.
2012-10
Development deal with Bombardier Aerospace
In October 2012, a development deal was announced between Bombardier Aerospace and a government-led South Korean consortium, including Korea Aerospace Industries and Korean Air, aiming to develop a 90-seat turboprop regional airliner.
2015
Introduction of Service Plan
Korean Air introduced a new service plan, aiming to elevate the in-flight service quality and customer satisfaction.
2016-06
Opening of World’s Largest Engine Test Center (ETC) on Yeongjong Island
In June 2016, the company opened the world’s largest engine test center (ETC) on Yeongjong Island.
2017-02
Introduction of First B787-9 Dreamliner
In February 2017, the first B787-9 Dreamliner aircraft was introduced by the company.
2017-12
Delivery of Korean Air's First Airbus A220 300 Aircraft
In December 2017, Korean Air took delivery of its first Airbus A220 300 (Bombardier CS300) aircraft, becoming the first airline in Asia to introduce this type of aircraft.
2019-06
Hosted the 75th IATA annual general meeting
In June 2019, Korean Air hosted the 75th IATA annual general meeting, showcasing its role in the aviation industry.
2021-03
Delay in Merger with Asiana Airlines
In March 2021, KAL announced that the merger with Asiana Airlines will be delayed as foreign authorities have not approved the deal.
2021-10
Korean Air finalizes Asiana cargo business sale
Korean Air is set to complete the sale of Asiana's cargo business by October, marking a significant development in the aviation industry.
2022
Korean Air Flight 631 Runway Overrun
In 2022, Korean Air Flight 631 overran the runway at Cebu, Philippines while attempting to land under poor weather conditions, resulting in the last aircraft write-off for Korean Air.
2023
Korean Air Flight Attendant Radiation Exposure Ruling
In 2023, the state-affiliated Korea Worker's Compensation and Welfare Service ruled that the cancer death of a flight attendant was akin to an industrial accident due to radiation exposure during flights to Europe and America. There was a dispute regarding the measurement of radiation exposure by Korean Air.
End of the Timeline
Korean Air

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