Korean Air
Korean Air is a South Korean flag carrier based in the Republic of Korea. Its network is centred on Seoul–Gimpo, Seoul–Incheon. It forms part of Hanjin Group and connects its home market with domestic or international destinations.[1]
The airline uses the IATA code KE, the ICAO code KAL, and the callsign KOREAN AIR.[2] It participates in SkyTeam.[1]
Overview
| Detail | Information |
| Country |  Republic of Korea |
| Status | Active |
| IATA code | KE |
| ICAO code | KAL |
| Callsign | KOREAN AIR |
| Founded | June 1962 |
| Operations began | 1 March 1969 |
| Hubs | Seoul–Gimpo; Seoul–Incheon |
| Frequent-flyer programme | SKYPASS |
| Alliance | SkyTeam |
| Parent company | Hanjin Group |
| Headquarters | 260 Haneul-gil, Gangseo District, Seoul, South Korea |
| Official website | koreanair.com |
History
The organisation developed through the following major stages. Dates describe the airline or operation covered by this article, including predecessor activity where relevant.[1]
| Date | Development |
| June 1962 | Founded as Korean Air Lines. |
| March 1, 1969 | Hanjin Group acquired Korean Air Lines. |
| April 26, 1971 | Introduced long-haul trans-Pacific freight operations. |
| April 19, 1972 | Launched passenger services to Los Angeles. |
| March 1, 1984 | Renamed to Korean Air. |
| June 23, 2000 | Founded SkyTeam alliance. |
| May 25, 2011 | Took delivery of its first Airbus A380. |
| December 12, 2024 | Acquisition of Asiana Airlines completed. |
Corporate affairs
Korean Air is based in 260 Haneul-gil, Gangseo District, Seoul, South Korea. It is owned by or organised within Hanjin Group. Its commercial activities are managed around the network, fleet, and operating model described in its published corporate information.[1]
The official website provides current schedules, customer information, and company announcements.[3]
Operations
Korean Air operates from hubs including Seoul–Gimpo, Seoul–Incheon. The source page lists 108 destinations, although this figure changes with seasonal schedules.[1]
The network and operating pattern vary by season and market demand.[1]
Partnerships
Korean Air is associated with SkyTeam, extending reciprocal connections and passenger benefits across partner networks.[1]
Fleet
The fleet is built around aircraft selected for the airline's passenger or cargo network. The principal families identified by the source include:[1]
| Aircraft family | Typical use |
| Airbus A220-300 | Passenger or cargo operations, depending on configuration |
| Airbus A321neo | Passenger or cargo operations, depending on configuration |
| Airbus A330-300 | Passenger or cargo operations, depending on configuration |
| Boeing 737-800 | Passenger or cargo operations, depending on configuration |
| Boeing 747-8I | Passenger or cargo operations, depending on configuration |
Aircraft counts and subtypes change as leases end, deliveries arrive, and older equipment is withdrawn.
Former fleet
Aircraft previously associated with the airline include:
Passenger services
The airline's passenger or customer-facing products include:
Branding
Korean Air[1]
Safety history
Notable events recorded in the source include:
Flight 007 shot down by the Soviet Union on September 1, 1983[1]
Flight 801 crash in 1997[1]
Flight 631 overrun incident in 2022[1]
These entries are a selective historical summary and should not be interpreted as a complete safety record.
See also
SkyTeam
List of airlines of Republic of Korea