Airline profile · Southeast Asia & Pacific

Korean Air

South KoreaFull-service carrierSkyTeam memberSince 1969

KEIATA code
KALICAO code

Korean Air (IATA KE, ICAO KAL) is South Korea's largest airline, part of the Hanjin Group since 1969 and based at Seoul's Incheon and Gimpo airports. A founding member of SkyTeam, it operated 166 aircraft in September 2026. It bought 63.88% of Asiana in December 2024, and the two airlines merge on 17 December 2026.

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Founded
1969
Headquarters
Seoul, South Korea
Country
South Korea
Main hubs
Incheon International Airport, Seoul (ICN) · Gimpo International Airport, Seoul (GMP)
Airline type
Full-service carrier
Alliance
SkyTeam
Loyalty
SKYPASS
Parent
Hanjin Group
Ownership
Part of the Hanjin Group. Korean Air has owned 63.88% of Asiana Airlines since 12 December 2024, and the two airlines are due to merge into one company on 17 December 2026.
Callsign
KOREANAIR
Website
koreanair.com

How travel agents book Korean Air

GDS distribution

No verified public statement of Korean Air's GDS distribution arrangements was found for this profile.

NDC

No public NDC programme details verified at time of writing.

Direct channels

Direct bookings are made on koreanair.com and the Korean Air app.

Notes for travel agents

Between 2 November and 3 December 2026 Korean Air is moving existing Asiana bookings for travel on or after 17 December 2026 onto Korean Air flight numbers. Agents should check the reissued reservations and ticket details for affected customers.

On ReservationHub

Korean Air is one of the direct airline connections listed on our integrations page, alongside GDS (Amadeus, Sabre, Travelport) and NDC content. Agencies get it in the SaaS platform; developers through the Travel API.

History of Korean Air

Korean Air's current history begins in March 1969, when the Hanjin Group took over the state-run Korean Air Lines. The airline grew into one of Asia's largest passenger and cargo carriers, with Incheon International Airport as its international hub and Gimpo as its domestic base in Seoul.

In June 2000 Korean Air led the creation of the SkyTeam alliance with partners including Delta and Air France. Its cargo arm became one of the world's biggest, and the airline runs aircraft maintenance and aerospace businesses alongside flying.

On 16 November 2020 Korean Air's board decided to acquire Asiana Airlines, Korea's second full-service carrier. After approvals from competition authorities in Korea and abroad, Korean Air bought 63.88% of Asiana on 12 December 2024, making it a subsidiary. The two airlines signed a merger contract on 14 May 2026, Korea's transport ministry gave conditional approval on 25 June, and shareholders approved the deal on 12 August. The integrated Korean Air is due to launch on 17 December 2026, with Asiana flights moved onto Korean Air flight numbers in advance.

Milestones

  1. 1969Hanjin Group took over the state-owned Korean Air Lines in March.
  2. 2000Co-founded the SkyTeam alliance in June.
  3. 2020Board resolved on 16 November to acquire Asiana Airlines.
  4. 2024Bought 63.88% of Asiana on 12 December, making it a subsidiary.
  5. 2026Merger contract with Asiana approved on 13 May; shareholders approved it on 12 August.
  6. 2026Fair Trade Commission approved the mileage integration plan on 15 September.
  7. 2026Integrated Korean Air due to launch on 17 December.

Fleet

Airbus A220-300 Airbus A321neo Airbus A330 Airbus A350 Airbus A380 Boeing 737-800/900 Boeing 737-8 Boeing 747-8I Boeing 777 Boeing 787-9 Boeing 787-10 Boeing 747-8F Boeing 777F

Aircraft types in service as of 2026

Korean Air reported 166 aircraft at 30 September 2026: 143 passenger aircraft and 23 freighters. The largest types were 29 Boeing 777s, 18 787-10s, 17 A330s, 17 737-800/900s and 20 A321neos. It also flew 14 787-9s, 10 A220s, six 737-8s, five A380s, four 747-8Is and three A350s. Asiana's fleet is still counted separately until the merger, and Korean Air has large Airbus and Boeing orders to replace older jets.

Network and hubs

Incheon International Airport is Korean Air's international hub, and Gimpo serves domestic and short regional flights. The network covers North America, Europe, Southeast and Northeast Asia, Oceania and the Middle East, and Korean Air pushes Incheon as a transfer point between Asia and the Americas.

After the merger, routes where both airlines fly are being retimed to spread departures through the day. New routes planned for December 2026 include Melbourne three times a week and Hiroshima daily.

Korean Air: frequently asked questions

What are Korean Air's IATA and ICAO codes?

Korean Air uses the IATA code KE and the ICAO code KAL, with the radio callsign KOREANAIR. Its ticket prefix in the IATA register is 180, so Korean Air tickets begin with 180. Flights are shown as KE followed by the flight number.

When does Asiana merge into Korean Air?

The integrated Korean Air is due to launch on 17 December 2026, the planned registration date of the merger. Korean Air already owns 63.88% of Asiana, bought on 12 December 2024. Asiana flights departing on or after 17 December are being moved to Korean Air flight numbers.

What happens to Asiana miles after the merger?

From the merger date, new miles are earned in Korean Air SKYPASS. Existing Asiana miles move to Korean Air but are kept separately for ten years; members can keep using them on the Asiana award chart or convert them to SKYPASS, 1:1 for flight miles and 1:0.82 for partner miles.

Is Korean Air in SkyTeam?

Yes. Korean Air helped found SkyTeam in June 2000 and remains a member. SKYPASS elite members receive SkyTeam elite benefits, and Korean Air is adding a new Morning Calm Select tier with SkyTeam Elite Plus benefits for former Asiana elite members.

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Sources

  1. Korean Air Newsroom — Korean Air acquires 63.88% of Asiana Airlines
  2. Korean Air Newsroom — Merger contract signed, integrated Korean Air to launch 17 December 2026
  3. Korean Air Newsroom — Merger approved by board and shareholders
  4. Korean Air Newsroom — Asiana booking transfer and flight number change
  5. Korean Air Newsroom — Mileage integration plan approved
  6. Korean Air Newsroom — Q3 2026 preliminary results
  7. Korean Air — Q3 2026 IR presentation (fleet table)
  8. Korean Air Newsroom — Alliance liveries and SkyTeam
  9. IATA — Airline members list
  10. FAA — JO 7340.2 Contractions, ICAO aircraft operator designators

Profile updated by the ReservationHub team. Airline details change: confirm schedules, fares and policies with the airline before booking. Spotted something out of date? Tell us.