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Korean Air adds Incheon Airport monitoring feature to its mobile app
Korean Air’s mobile app now includes a feature that shows key updates from Incheon International Airport in real time. Powered by Incheon International Airport Corporation’s public open application programming interface (OpenAI), this innovative addition provides passengers with updates on key airport operations. In a statement released on Friday, 12th September, Korean Air officials said: “The Incheon Airport Guide feature enhances passenger convenience by bringing tailored airport information directly into our mobile app.” They added that the airline will continue to develop digital solutions that create smoother, more efficient travel experiences. What can the app do for you? Among the things that can be monitored through the real-time airport monitor are congestion levels at check-in counters, security and immigration checkpoints, as well as estimated travel times from airport arrival to the boarding gate. The app also shows parking availability at long- and short-term parking facilities by floor at the facility, along with the location of Korean Air lounges and their respective occupancy levels. App users can even share their estimated arrival time and exit door via SMS or messaging apps with those meeting them at the airport.
KTO signs MoU with Yatra, Shinhan Bank India & Korean Air
Korea Tourism Organization (KTO) has entered into a strategic Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Shinhan Bank India, Korean Air, and Yatra to jointly promote tourism to Korea from India under the initiative “Gateway to Korea.” The collaboration aims to create a comprehensive and attractive travel experience for Indian tourists by integrating curated tour packages, financial benefits, and travel privileges. The signing ceremony took place on 22 August, 2025, in the presence of senior representatives from all organizations. The partnership is expected to enhance Korea’s visibility as a preferred travel destination for Indian tourists, while creating greater value through integrated financial, travel, and tourism benefits. As part of the initiative, the campaign will be promoted across Indian cities (Delhi, Mumbai, Bangalore, Hyderabad, Chennai, Ahmedabad, Surat, Jaipur, Pune, Kolkata) through a mix of digital outreach. As part of this campaign: Yatra will curate exclusive holiday packages to Korea, designed to showcase both leisure and industrial tourism experiences. Shinhan Bank India will launch a customized savings product offering travel-linked benefits to customers planning trips to Korea. Korean Air will extend travel privileges such as lounge access at Incheon Airport and provide promotional support. KTO will strategically drive the campaign, aligning it with its vision of positioning Korea as a preferred international travel destination for Indian travellers. Speaking on the occasion, Myong Kil Yun, Regional Director – India & SAARC Countries, Korea Tourism Organization (KTO), said: “Through this strategic partnership with Shinhan Bank India, Korean Air, and Yatra, we emphasise the importance of the India market for KTO. This collaboration will enable us to offer Indian travellers not just memorable experiences but also enhanced value through exclusive financial and travel benefits. We are delighted to work with our partners to make Korea more accessible and appealing to Indian tourists.” Adding to this, Manish Amin, Co-Founder & CIO, Yatra Online Ltd., said: “At Yatra, we are committed to offering experiences to Indian travellers that go beyond conventional holidays, and are delighted to partner with KTO, Shinhan Bank India, and Korean Air on the ‘Gateway to Korea’ initiative. South Korea is a country where tradition and modernity co-exist seamlessly, offering travellers a unique opportunity to experience its cultural richness alongside its spirit of innovation. Through this collaboration, Yatra will curate exclusive packages that showcase not only South Korea’s leisure offerings but also its dynamic industrial tourism experiences. We believe this initiative will open up exciting new avenues for Indian travellers, making South Korea more accessible, engaging, and inspiring than ever before.” This collaboration marks an important step in bringing South Korea closer to Indian travellers. By blending tourism promotion with financial benefits and exclusive travel services, the MoU aims to make visiting Korea easier and more rewarding for Indian travellers.
Korean Air announces plans to augment fleet with 103 Boeing aircraft
Korean Air announced its intent to purchase 103 of Boeing's fuel-efficient family of airplanes earlier today, 26th August. The South Korean carrier seeks to modernise its fleet and support further growth as it fully integrates operations with Asiana Airlines over the next several years. This historic agreement was signed during the Korea-U.S. Business Roundtable which centred on Partnership for a Manufacturing Renaissance. Howard Lutnick, US secretary of commerce, and South Korean minister of trade, industry, and energy Kim Jung-kwan presided over the event. Korean Air's commitment will be the airline's largest-ever order and Boeing's largest widebody order from an Asian carrier. A pivotal moment Korean Air chairman and chief executive Walter Cho said of the impending purchase: "This agreement with our long-standing partners, Boeing and GE, marks a pivotal moment for Korean Air. Acquiring these next-generation aircraft is the core of our fleet modernization strategy, delivering significant gains in fuel efficiency and enhancing the passenger experience across our global network.” Cho added that the investment is also a critical enabler for the airline’s future as a merged airline with Asiana, ensuring that the combined entity becomes one of the most competitive airlines in the global aviation sector. What happens now? Upon finalisation, the deal will mark Korean Air's first order for the 777-8F and will support an estimated 135,000 jobs across the United States. The order will be posted to Boeing's Orders & Deliveries website once it is completed and includes the following models: 20 777-9s 25 787-10s 50 737-10s 8 777-8 Freighters Korean Air's orders and commitments for Boeing airplanes in 2025 surpasses 150 units, following the airline's incremental order in March for 20 777-9s and 20 787-10s. This moved Stephanie Pope, president and chief executive of Boeing Commercial Airplanes to say: "We are honoured to strengthen our partnership with Korean Air through this landmark agreement, which reflects the value and capabilities of Boeing's market-leading airplane family. As Korean Air transitions to a larger unified carrier, we are committed to supporting the airline's growth with one of the world's most efficient fleets."
Korean Air unveils newly renovated lounges at Incheon Airport
Korean Air has completed the first phase of its lounge renewal project at Incheon International Airport, unveiling a fully redesigned Miler Club and Prestige East (Right) Lounge on 18 August. In addition, two new Prestige Garden Lounges have opened at the far ends of the terminal, following the airport’s recent expansion. Designed to elevate the pre-flight experience, the revamped lounges feature luxurious interiors, expanded facilities and enhanced dining options. Hotel-style lobbies welcome guests into distinct zones for dining, relaxation, meetings, and wellness. A key highlight is the introduction of “Live Stations,” where chefs from the Grand Hyatt Incheon prepare dishes on-site, bringing an interactive dining element to the lounge experience. ■ Live Stations: Gourmet cuisine crafted on-site The new Miler Club and Prestige East Lounge will feature open kitchens where guests can watch chefs prepare signature dishes. The curated buffet includes Korean and Western selections, a bakery, and a salad bar. Western offerings include hand-tossed pizzas, freshly baked croissants, and chef-carved beef steak, while Korean specialities range from freshly rolled gimbap made with premium local ingredients to a noodle bar serving tteokguk (rice cake soup) and janchi guksu (banquet noodles). A dedicated bartender crafts cocktails, and in the Miler Club, an in-house barista prepares freshly brewed coffee. Menus will change quarterly to showcase seasonal ingredients. Beyond dining, the lounges offer diversified spaces to accommodate every need, from relaxation to work. Guests can enjoy a wellness area with massage chairs, a tech zone for device use, and a meeting room with a large conference screen. Spacious shower facilities offer private powder rooms and premium amenities. ■ Design inspired by Korean elegance The interiors blend sophisticated Korean design with modern luxury. A color palette of gold, charcoal, black, and ivory mirrors the Korean Air’s premium cabin aesthetics, while traditional Korean architectural elements including Hanok-inspired structures are seamlessly integrated with modern materials like metal to create a contemporary and sophisticated ambiance. Korean Air partnered with a renowned global interior design firm, known for creating interiors for luxury properties including Four Seasons Seoul and multiple five-star hotels across the Asia Pacific region. Premium wood and marble furnishings create an elegant atmosphere, enhanced by warm ambient lighting. The new layout moves beyond the traditional dining-focused lounge model, with separate areas for full meals and refreshments, giving passengers more flexibility in how they spend their time. ■ Two new lounges with Incheon’s Phase 4 expansion The new Prestige Garden East Lounge and Prestige Garden West Lounge offer a quieter retreat with modern simplicity. The Prestige Garden East Lounge overlooks a traditional Korean-style outdoor garden, while the Prestige Garden West Lounge provides views of a modern Western Garden. Both offer a refined selection of food and beverages. ■ Full renovations to finish in 2026, enhancing capacity for post-integration Remaining renovations, scheduled for completion next year, will cover the First-Class Lounge, the Prestige East (Left) Lounge, and Prestige West Lounge. During construction, First Class passengers will temporarily use the Miler Club. Upon completion, Korean Air’s total lounge space at Incheon will expand from 5,105 to 12,270 square meters, while total capacity will nearly double from 898 to 1,566 seats. The lounge renewal is part of the airline’s broader infrastructure investment ahead of full integration with Asiana Airlines, ensuring sufficient capacity and premium service for the combined passenger base.
Korean Air introduces Premium Class aboard its Boeing 777-300ER fleet
Korean Air will introduce Premium Class service on its newly retrofitted Boeing 777-300ER, with the first flights launching on short- and mid-haul routes starting from mid-September. As part of this launch, Korean Air has invested approximately KRW 300 billion to fully retrofit 11 Boeing 777-300ER aircraft with completely redesigned cabins, bringing them in line with the airline’s latest aircraft interiors and onboard technology. The launch of Premium Class coincides with a complete interior overhaul of the airline’s Boeing 777-300ER fleet. Inspired by the design of Korean Air’s latest aircraft, the updated cabins offer a refreshed, modern experience across all classes. The aircraft now feature Korean Air’s newest seating products including Prestige Suites 2.0 in a 1-2-1 configuration for Prestige Class, and New Economy in a 3-4-3 layout. In a statement, the airline declared: “We’re committed to bringing the fully redesigned Boeing 777-300ER and new Premium Class to as many customers as possible. This fleet upgrade has been in progress since 2018 and, after delays due to the pandemic, we’re proud to now offer an elevated travel experience that meets our passengers’ evolving needs.” A new standard for inflight comfort Premium Class is positioned between the airline’s Prestige and Economy Classes, offering more spacious seating and upgraded service. While pricing varies by route and travel dates, fares are generally around 110 percent of normal Economy fares. The new cabin features 40 seats in a 2-4-2 layout, designed for greater comfort. Premium Class offers approximately 50 percent more space than existing Economy Class seats, with a seat pitch of about 1 metre, offering more space than many premium economy products offered by major global airlines. Seats are about 50 cm wide, recline up to 130 degrees, and come equipped with both leg and footrests. The seats also feature ergonomic headrests for gentle support and include wing-shaped sides to provide a greater sense of privacy from adjacent passengers. Passengers can enjoy an enhanced in-flight entertainment experience with 15.6-inch 4K resolution screens, which are larger than the previous monitors in Prestige Class on the same aircraft. On international routes, Premium Class passengers will enjoy a refined single-tray meal service, including a main course dish, appetizer, and dessert from the Prestige Class menu, served on Armani/Casa tableware. Beverages, including wine, coffee, and tea, are the same as those served in Prestige Class. Premium Class passengers will also benefit from priority ground services, including access to Morning Calm check-in counters, priority baggage handling and Sky Priority boarding. Wi-Fi is available across all cabins, and in-flight entertainment systems have been significantly upgraded.
Korean Air upgrades airport lounges
Korean Air announced two new initiatives under its current service enhancement strategy, involving improvements to airport lounges and new cabins for aircraft. The South Korean flag-carrier will be implementing upgrades at its airport lounges and introducing Premium Economy cabins. This initiative follows the unveiling of its new corporate identity ahead of the Asiana integration. Based on current plans, the airline will expand and renovate its existing lounges at Incheon International Airport Terminal 2. New Prestige Class Garden Lounges will be built in both the east and west wings at Incheon; both areas were added during the airport’s Phase 4 expansion. These enhancements will accommodate increased passenger traffic following the airport expansion and the relocation of Asiana Airlines into Terminal 2. Bigger and better The existing Prestige Class Lounge in the east wing will double in size, while the Miler Club Lounge will also be expanded. These four lounges will open in phases from August 2025, providing a more spacious environment for an elevated customer experience. The First-Class Lounge and Prestige Class Lounge in the west wing will undergo renovations and reopen in April 2026. Once all upgrades are complete, Korean Air will operate a total of six lounges at Incheon, expanding the overall lounge space by 2.5 times and doubling seating capacity. The airline will also renovate its lounges at major international hub airports. The lounges at Los Angeles (LAX) and New York John F. Kennedy International Airport (JFK) will undergo complete redesigns, incorporating city-themed atmospheres. Beyond mere construction and refurbishment, Korean Air is also enhancing the airport lounge experience by introducing a new feature in its mobile app. This update will provide passengers with real-time information on lounge location, amenities, reservations, and crowd levels, making it easier to plan and enjoy their time before a flight. Pre-flight indulgence Also, the First-Class Lounge will be transformed into a premium space that exceeds airport lounge conventions. The airline plans to create an elegant, refined environment offering sophisticated comfort associated with luxury hotel lounges. Food and beverage services will be significantly enhanced with live kitchens offering fresh, diverse cuisine. Bartenders and baristas will prepare cocktails, wines, and beverages on-site. Dedicated bakeries and patisseries will serve croissants, pizzas, and desserts, while a signature noodle bar will offer freshly prepared dishes. Premium Economy makes its debut Korean Air will also introduce Premium Economy seating in response to growing market demand. The airline will retrofit 11 Boeing 777-300ER aircraft, removing First Class cabins to install Premium Economy cabins. The first retrofitted aircraft will enter service in the second half of 2025 with a three-class configuration: Prestige (Business), Premium Economy and Economy. Fleet modifications will continue through 2026 to expand Premium Economy availability across more routes.
Korean Air launches new branding after USD1.3 billion Asiana acquisition
Korean Air has launched new aircraft livery and corporate branding that will be introduced across the company as it combines with South Korean rival Asiana Airlines to become one of Asia's biggest carriers. South Korea's largest airline in December completed a $1.3 billion acquisition of two-thirds of Asiana, which will be run as a subsidiary until Jan. 1 2027, when it will integrate under the Korean Air name and corporate identity. Korean Air planes will now sport the word "Korean", instead of "Korean Air", in a larger, modernised, simplified dark blue font, and the top half of the fuselage will be painted light blue, with a new metallic effect. "The updated logo aligns with modern and global minimalist branding trends while preserving the airline's distinct identity," the company said. Since 1984, Korean Air planes have had distinctive sky blue and white bodies, and tails decorated with a stylised taeguk, a traditional blue and red Korean symbol for the harmony between opposing forces used on the country's flag. Korean Air, a founding member of the SkyTeam airline alliance, was established in 1969 when state-owned Korean Air Lines was taken over by South Korean conglomerate Hanjin Kal. The Asiana acquisition rescued the debt-laden carrier, which was struggling even before a plunge in travel demand during the COVID-19 pandemic. The deal, finalised more than four years after it was first proposed, was hampered by competition concerns and became the longest-ever merger of airlines to complete. "After the merger with Asiana, we'll continue to grow in revenue and also in size. But my most important measurement of growth is service quality," Korean Air CEO Walter Cho told the media."My top priority is safety, no matter what," Cho said. Source: Reuters
Korean Air is Airline Ratings’ 2025 Airline of the Year
Australia's AirlineRatings.com just named Korean Air as its Airline of the Year for 2025. The South Korean flag-carrier also won Best Economy Class in Airline Ratings’ World’s Best Airline Cabin Class Awards. The airline likewise secured eighth position in the publication's Top 25 Safest Full-Service Airlines rankings in January this year. Korean Air was recognized for its commitment to enhancing the passenger experience and its strategic growth initiatives. Airline Ratings chief executive Sharon Petersen said: "Korean Air's delivery of exceptional service across all cabin classes, from economy to premium, is backed by continuous investment in next-generation aircraft and fleet modernisation. With the successful acquisition of Asiana Airlines, the airline has established a historic milestone in shaping its future." This recognition follows Korean Air's previous accolades, including being ranked second in AirlineRatings' Top 25 Airlines and winning Best Long-Haul Carrier in North Asia in 2024. The airline remains committed to strengthening its position as a leading global carrier through continued innovation and service excellence. Providing an exceptional experience to clients the world over Airline Ratings commended Korean Air’s economy class experience, highlighting the spacious seat configurations in comparison to other airlines and attentive onboard service. The evaluation also noted the airline’s comprehensive amenities on its long-haul routes, along with enhanced dining and expansive inflight entertainment options. A standout feature of Korean Air’s economy class is the Boeing 787-10, which offers industry-leading seats with a 120-degree recline capability and 13.3-inch high-resolution monitors, significantly enhancing passenger comfort and entertainment options. Korean Air's strategic fleet modernisation programme continues to drive service improvements and operational efficiency. The airline’s latest addition of next-gen aircraft, including the Airbus A350-900, A321neo and Boeing 787-10, have strengthened its network coverage while setting new standards for inflight experience and operational reliability. Beyond passenger experience, the airline has demonstrated business strength and future readiness. The recent successful acquisition of Asiana Airlines, one of the largest mergers in Asian aviation history, marks a significant milestone as the airline embarks on a bold new journey.
Korean Air celebrates Year of the Blue Snake
Korean Air is celebrating the Lunar New Year by displaying traditional good luck charms, known as Bokjori, at major domestic company sites from 22 January to 4 February. The Bokjori hanging tradition is a cherished Korean custom where a strainer, made of woven bamboo, is hung on the wall during the first day of the Lunar New Year. The custom is to “gather” good fortune and prosperity, much like scooping up rice with a strainer. Since 2008, Korean Air has upheld this tradition by carrying out the Bokjori hanging event every Lunar New Year. The annual initiative aims to wish customers good health and happiness while promoting and preserving this meaningful aspect of Korean culture.
Korean Air takes 63.88 percent of Asiana Airlines
Korean Air completed its acquisition of a major stake in Asiana Airlines on Thursday, 12th December. The acquisition was finalised four years after Korean Air expressed its plan to acquire the stake in November 2020. The South Korean flag-carrier acquired 131,578,947 newly issued shares of Asiana Airlines, representing a 63.88 percent ownership stake. This makes Asiana Airlines a subsidiary of Korean Air. The completion follows Korean Air's payment of KRW 800 billion to Asiana Airlines on Wednesday, 11th December, concluding the share purchase transaction. This brings the total investment through the third-party allotment capital increase to KRW 1.5 trillion, including the previously paid deposit of KRW 300 billion and interim payment of KRW 400 billion. Asiana Airlines will hold an extraordinary general meeting of shareholders on 16 January 2025 to appoint new board directors nominated by Korean Air. The acquisition represents a strategic milestone for Korea’s aviation industry, and Korean Air will proceed to implement measures to strengthen the country’s aviation capabilities and enhance its competitive position in the global market. What happens now? Korean Air plans to complete the integration with Asiana Airlines within two years. The integration strategy includes network optimization through diversified flight schedules on overlapping routes, service expansion to new destinations and enhanced safety investments. The merger aims to strengthen national aviation industry competitiveness, enhance Incheon Airport's hub capabilities and expand global network reach. The integration will proceed without workforce restructuring, as the combined organization projects natural staff growth through business expansion, with employees in overlapping functions being reassigned within the organization. The integrated frequent flyer programme framework will be submitted to the Korea Fair Trade Commission by June 2025. Programme details will be communicated to customers following regulatory review.
Korean Air
Seoul, South Korea
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