Korean Air and Asiana Airlines has approved a long-awaited merger that will pave the way for the launch of a new, integrated Korean Air on 17 December, after which Asiana Airlines will be fully absorbed into Korean Air.
The agreement comes about five and a half years after Korean Air announced its decision to take over Asiana Airlines. The two airlines said they will sign the official contract on Thursday, 21 May.
Under the merger terms, Korean Air will comprehensively inherit Asiana Airlines’ assets, liabilities, rights, obligations and workforce. Korean Air’s capital is expected to increase by approximately 101.7 billion won ($68.3 million) following the transaction.
Once the two airlines formally sign the contract, Korean Air said it would submit a merger application to the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport. The carrier will then apply for operations specifications amendments to standardise Asiana Airlines aircraft and safety systems under Korean Air’s existing air operator certificate in June.
After obtaining domestic approvals, Korean Air plans to proceed with regulatory filings with overseas aviation authorities to align safety management systems and operational protocols.
Investing to support expanded operations
Korean Air is finalising specific investments to support its expanded operations:
- Service upgrades: lounge renewals, catering updates, and terminal relocations to improve passenger experience.
- Training standardisation: flight crew training programs standardised to ensure procedural consistency across both airlines.
- Facility modernisation: remodelling of the Operations and Customer Center (OCC), Cabin Crew Training Center, and Aviation Health and Medical Center to manage increased volume.
- MRO capacity: enhanced maintenance infrastructure, including a new engine maintenance plant and an expanded Engine Test Cell (ETC) near Incheon International Airport.
The integration will elevate Korean Air’s global market presence and establish Incheon International Airport as a dominant global hub through optimised network connectivity and increased transit efficiency.
Korean Air is also finalising the loyalty program consolidation in coordination with the Korea Fair Trade Commission and relevant authorities to ensure a seamless transition for passengers.
Overlapping routes will be streamlined, even as Korean Air expands into new markets and moves closer to eventually combining its low-cost subsidiaries, Jin Air, Air Busan and Air Seoul, into a single carrier operating under the Jin Air brand from 2027.
In late 2025, Korean Air announced that the carrier would preserve the value of Asiana Airlines’ mileage points for up to a decade following the merger. More details about a consolidated loyalty programme will be announced at a later time.
