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.
Korean Air is the flag carrier airline of South Korea. It operates domestic and international flights on 5 continents.
Korean Air is the flag carrier airline of South Korea. It is one of the largest airlines in Asia.
In 1960, Hanjin was granted an air transportation license, which proved important in its later expansion in the air transportation sector.
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.
Korean Air, the flag carrier airline of South Korea, was established on March 1, 1969.
In March 1970, Korean Air was established after the acquisition of the state-owned Korean Air Lines.
On April 26, 1971, Korean Air introduced long-haul trans-pacific freight operations, expanding its services and operations.
On April 19, 1972, Korean Air commenced passenger services to Los Angeles International Airport, further expanding its international presence.
SkyPriority, introduced by Korean Air in 1973, offers exclusive services for elite passengers, providing priority check-in, boarding, and baggage handling.
Korean Air celebrated its 50th anniversary, showcasing its long-standing presence and success in the aviation industry.
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.
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.
In March 1979, the helicopter plant in Gimhae, which is currently known as the Busan Tech Center, was completed.
In 1980, Korean Air launched a passenger route to New York.
In December 1981, an exclusive Korean Air cargo terminal was opened at Los Angeles Airport.
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.
Korean Air introduced a new corporate livery and changed its name from Korean Air Lines to Korean Air, marking a significant rebranding effort for the airline.
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.
In August 1988, Korean Air established its headquarters in Seosomun, marking a pivotal moment in the airline's organizational structure.
In 1990, the airline's fleet expanded to 72 aircraft, demonstrating a remarkable growth in its operational scale and capacity.
In 1991, Korean Air Lines operated its first scheduled flight from Seoul to Moscow, marking a milestone in its expansion.
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.
The first pilots graduated from Korean Air Flying School, marking a significant milestone in the development of aviation expertise in South Korea.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
In 2004, Korean Air achieved the top ranking in international air cargo transportation, as recognized by the International Air Transport Association (IATA).
In June 2005, Korean Air established a cabin crew training center to enhance the skills and professionalism of its flight attendants.
In September 2005, Korean Air launched a new uniform for its staff.
In October 2006, Korean Air published an in-flight entertainment magazine called 'Beyond'.
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.
In February 2008, Korean Air started offering Korean language audio guide service at the Louvre in France, aiming to enhance the experience of Korean-speaking visitors.
In July 2008, Jin Air, Korean Air’s low-cost subsidiary, was launched, expanding the airline's service offerings.
In August 2010, Hanjin Group, the parent of KAL, inaugurated a new cargo terminal at Navoiy International Airport in Uzbekistan, which was intended to serve as a cargo hub with regular flights between Seoul, Navoi, and Milan.
In May 2011, the first A380-800 aircraft was introduced by the company.
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.
In 2013, Korean Air obtained a 44% stake in Czech Airlines, but later sold the stake in October 2017.
In August 2014, Korean Air added its 10th A380 aircraft to the fleet, featuring a 'hotel in the sky' with innovative seating configurations.
Korean Air introduced a new service plan, aiming to elevate the in-flight service quality and customer satisfaction.
In June 2016, the company opened the world’s largest engine test center (ETC) on Yeongjong Island.
In February 2017, the first B787-9 Dreamliner aircraft was introduced by the company.
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.
On 1 May 2018, Korean Air initiated a joint venture partnership with Delta Air Lines.
In June 2019, Korean Air hosted the 75th IATA annual general meeting, showcasing its role in the aviation industry.
As of 5 June 2020, Korean Air is majority controlled by Hanjin KAL Corporation, with Hanjin KAL holding 29.27% of Korean Air shares.
In March 2021, KAL announced that the merger with Asiana Airlines will be delayed as foreign authorities have not approved the deal.
Korean Air is set to complete the sale of Asiana's cargo business by October, marking a significant development in the aviation industry.
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.
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.