Korean Air
| File:Korean Air logo.png | |||||||
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| Founded | 1962 (privatized 1969) | ||||||
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| Hubs | Incheon Int'l Airport Gimpo International Airport | ||||||
| Focus cities | Gimhae International Airport Jeju International Airport | ||||||
| Frequent-flyer program | SKYPASS | ||||||
| Alliance | SkyTeam | ||||||
| Fleet size | 146 (+53 orders) incl. cargo | ||||||
| Destinations | 108 incl. cargo | ||||||
| Parent company | Hanjin Group | ||||||
| Headquarters |  Seoul, South Korea | ||||||
| Key people | Cho Yangho (Chairman and CEO) | ||||||
| Website | http://www.koreanair.com | ||||||
Korean Air (KRX: 003490) (Korean Air Daehan Hanggong) is the national flag carrier airline of Korea, with its global world headquarters located in Seoul, Korea. It operates international passenger and related cargo services to 130 cities in 45 countries and domestic services to 20 destinations. It ranks in the top twenty of world airlines in terms of passengers carried. It is the largest airline based in South Korea, with Korea's second largest flag carrier being Asiana Airlines. Korean Air's main international network superhub and central gateway to its home nation is the new Incheon International Airport, located in Incheon, Korea. Korean Air also maintains a satellite headquarters campus at Incheon International Airport, located 30 minutes away from Korea's capital city in Seoul.
Korean Air's main global world headquarters campus along with its Global Operations Center are located in Seoul, Korea in the Kangseo-Ku district. Korean Air also maintains a domestic headquarters campus at Gimpo International Airport in Seoul. Korean Air's domestic superhubs are based at Jeju International Airport and Gimhae International Airport, Busan.[1]
In recent years, Korean Air has upgraded its flagship fleets and services and in the process, have been garnering international acclaimation and awards. With its excellent financial performance in 2005, Korean Air received the "Phoenix Award" from Air Transport World (ATW) for its success in overcoming challenges in the global airline industry. It has been named one of Asia's best airlines by Time readers and the OAG Magazine, as well as twice has won the coveted Mercury Award for its inflight catering. For the first time ever, Korean Air was awarded Skytrax's Best Economy Class 2007 award. It also ranked 4th in Best Inflight Entertainment, 7th in Best First Class Lounges and 3rd in Best Cabin Staff Asia.[citation needed].
Korean Air has also been recognized as one of the premier airline catering industry leaders of its kind. In February 2006, the worldwide airline customer service quality assessment group PAX International awarded Korea's flag carrier with awards for Asia's top carrier for "Outstanding Food Service" and "Best New Product Launch."
In most recent airline industry news, Korean Air continues to elevate its high levels of excellence in customer service. It is is now recognized as one of the largest passenger carriers in the world. Skytrax announced in August 2007 recognized Korean Air as the carrier offering the "Best Economy Class." With its increasingly global dominance in the airline industry accompanied by its partner airlines within the Skyteam Alliance of which it is a founding member, Korean Air will establish Incheon International Airport (ICN) and Gimpo International Airport (SEL), to be the super-regional hubs for the region of Asia, in preparation for the expansion of Asian continental destinations' growth in the next century.
Korean Air is also one of the very few airline carriers to also maintain major air cargo operations, known as Korean Air Cargo. As a division of the corporate Hanjin group, the Korean Air Cargo division overtook Lufthansa in 2005 as the world's largest air cargo business.[citation needed] In July 2006, the IATA recognized Korean Air for the second consecutive time in a row as the airline industry largest commercial carrier.
Korean Air is formally accredited by the IATA with the IOSA (IATA Operations Safety Audit) for its safety practices.
History
Korean Air began in 1962 as Korean Air Lines and was owned by the South Korean Government to replace Korean National Airlines (which had been formed in 1948). On 1 March 1969 the Hanjin Transport Group took control of the fledgling airline. Long-haul freight operations were introduced on 26 April 1971 followed by passenger services to Los Angeles on 19 April 1972.[1]
International flights to Hong Kong, Taiwan, and Los Angeles were flown with Boeing 707s until the introduction of Boeing 747 in 1973. In 1973, KAL introduced Boeing 747s on their Pacific routes and started a European service to Paris using the 707 and DC-10. KAL was also Airbus's first customer outside Europe. [citation needed]
A blue-top, silver and redesigned livery with a new corporate "Korean Air" logo featuring an accented, stylized "taegukki" design was introduced on 1 March 1984 and the airline's name changed to Korean Air from Korean Airlines (However this name is still used in official documents). This livery was first introduced in its Fokker F28. It was designed in cooperation between Korean Air and Boeing. In 1990s Korean Air became the first airline to use the new MD-11 to supplement its new fleet of Boeing 747-400s. However, MD-11 did not meet the set performance. As a result, its MD-11s were converted to freighters (in addition to 747 freighters).
In 1998, an economic recession hit South Korea, which resulted in large reductions in flights and the number of destinations. In 2000, Korea recovered and Korean Air exponentially expanded its global destination network, adding gateways from its worldwide superhub at Incheon International Airport.
Korean Air flies to the most US gateway destinations of any Asian carrier (16 passenger cities in the 50 states). Korean Air owns 25% of Okay Airways, a Tianjin, PRC-based airline. Korean Air is currently in negotiations to open its China hub in Beijing or Shanghai by the end of 2008.
In 1997, Korean Air founded KAL Catering and Korean Air rescinded its catering contracts with LSG Sky Chefs. The airline has now created a new contract with Servair. [citation needed] Korean Air Catering now provides exclusive catering for other airlines, including SkyTeam Alliance members and Star Alliance airlines.
In October 2006, Korean Air won top honors in the TIME Readers’ Travel Choice Awards 2006 as the Best First/Business Class Airline and the Best Frequent Flyer Program for its Skypass program. The South Korean flagship carrier prevailed over strong international competitors and gained overwhelming support from the readers of TIME magazine to win these categories for the first time. Korean Air was also ranked second in the Preferred Airline category. TIME Magazine conducted the TIME Readers’ Travel Choice Awards 2006 poll from April 24 to June 25, 2006. [citation needed] In fleetsize, Korean Air now surpasses its Asian competitors, including Japan Airlines, All Nippon Airways, EVA Airlines and Chinese carriers.
The airline has 16,623 employees (at March 2007).[1] On June 5, 2007, Korean Air said that it would create a new low-cost carrier in Korea to compete with Korea's super-high speed railway network system named KTX which offers cheaper fares and less stringent security procedures. Korean Air's low-cost concept will fly Boeing 737s. Over 20 domestic destinations are planned to be part of the new domestic network.
Safety Record & Enhanced Response Programs and Development
From the mid 1980s to the late 1990s, Korean Air had safety problems. Several partner airlines briefly removed Korean Air from its code share program until changes were made. After their approval of Korean Air's new safety standards, the airlines came together to form what is now known as the SkyTeam. The US Federal Aviation Administration, which regulates access to the American airspace, warned the Korean Air management team that its access to the American airports would be restricted, unless drastic changes were forthcoming. The U.S. military and the Department of State advised its personnel to avoid taking Korean Air if other commercial alternatives were available. The competing carrier, Asiana Airlines, benefited tremendously from the dramatic drop in Korean Air's reputation as its safety record was significantly better than Korean Air's. In response, Korean Air introduced new satety protocols and training.
Consequently, since 2000, the U.S. Military Command in Korea resumed its partnership with Korean Air and has made the airline its preferred carrier.
Korean Air has adopted modern principles of CRM (Crew Resource Management). In October 2006, Korean Air won top honors in the TIME Readers’ Travel Choice Awards an indication that many have regained confidence in South Korea's largest airline.
Korean Air continues to improve its in-flight experience product to remain competitive with Asiana Airlines, Jeju Air and Hansung Airlines.
_at_Daegu_International_Airport.jpg)
Destinations
Charters for 2007
Korean Air are operating charters to the following:
New Corporate Image
In 2004, Korean Air announced its new corporate objective branded as "Excellence In Flight." As an airline that operates in an intensely competitive industry, the carrier’s new corporate image incorporates the themes of the "Spirit of the New Korea" and "At Home" to reflect a more comfortable inflight environment. This has been accompanied by various advertising and public relations advertising in Internet, print and media presenting its leadership in SkyTeam Alliance and its partner airlines.
The new corporate image changes include new employee uniforms designed by Gianfranco Ferre, a world renown fashion designer and Landor, a global brand development company; new products and interiors; as well as new services.
Launch of New Employee Uniforms and Corporate Identity
In 2005, Korean Air launched a company-wide rollout of new uniforms for all flight attendants, front-line employees, pilots and mechanics. This is the first sweeping uniform change for all employee groups since the airline’s inception. The uniforms were designed by Gianfranco Ferre, an Italian designer.
All uniforms incorporate celadon blue, chocolate brown, black, cream and a freshened, contemporary cut in trousers and pants for both men and women. For the redesign and in the first time of the carrier's history, female flight attendants have the option of wearing feminine suitpants in addition to the standard re-designed traditional skirt uniform, hair accessories and heels. Throughout flights both domestic and international, female flight crews also may wear selected hanbok, Korea's traditional wear.
Male flight crews, depending upon their rank and class category, wear redesigned uniforms combining a slim-cut aesthetic in both black, gray, cream and gray. Outerwear and trousers all share the common cuts and elements as do the women's uniforms, to create a sense of corporate identity.
Customer service and airport staff representing the face of Korean Air have been assigned the same uniforms, as do the flight crews. Slight variations have been made and may be worn, depending upon the wearer and management's discretion.
The new colours have been used on the airlines internet site and on in-flight items.
Pictures of the new uniform can be seen in the following video: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ARfhfcvdZrs
Fleet
Passenger fleet
The Korean Air passenger fleet consists of the following aircraft as of August 2007:[2]
| Aircraft | Total | Passengers (First*/Prestige*/Economy) |
Routes | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Airbus A300-600 | 8 | 266 (24/242) 276 (24/252) |
Domestic, Fukuoka, Busan/Jeju-Japan, China | To be phased out Replacement aircraft: Boeing 787 |
| Airbus A330-200 | 3 | 258 (6/18/234) | International long haul Egypt, Europe, Fiji, Vietnam |
|
| Airbus A330-300 | 16 | 296 (12/28/256) 296 (24/272) 352 (24/328) |
Domestic/International short-medium haul Australia, Japan, China, Southeast Asia and Middle East |
|
| Airbus A380-800 | (5 orders) (3 options) |
Entry into service: 2010 | ||
| Boeing 737-700 | (1 order) | |||
| Boeing 737-800 | 16 | 149 (8/141) 164 (8/156) |
Domestic/International short-medium haul China, Southeast Asia |
|
| Boeing 737-900 | 16 | 188 (8/180) | Domestic/International short-medium haul China, Japan |
|
| Boeing 737-900ER | (4 orders) | |||
| Boeing 747-400 | 24 | 333 (10/61/262) 335 (12/61/262) 376 (12/58/306) 384 (16/58/310) |
International long haul High-capacity short haul North America, Japan, Australia and Europe |
Will be converted to Freighter Replacement aircraft: Boeing 777-300ER Airbus A380-800 |
| Boeing 777-200ER | 13 (5 orders) |
261 (8/28/225) 301 (12/28/261) |
International long haul High-capacity short haul North America, Australia, Japan, New Zealand and Europe |
|
| Boeing 777-300 | 4 | 376 (12/28/336) | International long haul High-capacity short haul Southeast Asia, China and Japan |
|
| Boeing 777-300ER | (10 orders) (4 options) |
North America | Replacing: Boeing 747-400 | |
| Boeing 787-8 | (10 orders) (10 options) |
Entry into service: 2009 Replacing: Airbus A300-600 |
*First Class is offered on domestic, short-haul Flights and international. Prestige Class is offered on international medium-long haul flights.
Cargo fleet
The Korean Air Cargo fleet consists of the following aircraft as of August 2007:
| Aircraft | Total | Routes | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Airbus A300-600F | 2 | Converted to freighter from passenger service. | |
| Boeing 747-400F | 21 | ||
| Boeing 747-400BCF | (8 orders) | Converted to freighter from passenger service. | |
| Boeing 747-8F | (5 orders) | ||
| Boeing 777F | (5 orders) |
The average age of the Korean Air fleet is 7.5 years as of February 2007.[3] Korean Air operates 100 passenger aircraft, and 20 cargo aircraft, for a total of 120 planes as of December 14, 2006. [citation needed]
On 31 May 2005 Korean Air signed an agreement on an additional order for a Boeing 747-400ERF, converting an option taken out in 2004, bringing total Korean Air orders for the aircraft to eight, of which five have been delivered. The new aircraft is scheduled for delivery in May 2006.[4] The airline is also ordering 747-8 and 777 freighters to expand their fleet.
On 29 December 2006 Korean Air has announced that it will convert all passenger 747-400 fleet to freighters to expand its fleet. [citation needed]
Korean Air Cargo has been ranked the world's top commercial airline cargo operation by the International Air Transport Association (IATA) for two consecutive years (2004~2005), as measured by international (not domestic) FTKs. During 2005, Korean Air recorded 7.982 billion international FTK, topping the charts. [citation needed]
Previously operated=
| Aircraft | Year Retired | Replacement | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Airbus A300B4-103 | 1997 | ||
| Boeing 707-320 | 1980s | ||
| Boeing 720-200 | 1993 | ||
| Boeing 727 | 1993 | ||
| Boeing 747-200 | 1998 | ||
| Boeing 747-200F | 2006 | Boeing 747-400ERF | Selling to Cargo 360 |
| Boeing 747SP | 1998 | ||
| Boeing 747-300 | 2005 | Boeing 777-200ER | |
| Boeing 747-300C | 2006 | Sold to Cargo 360 | |
| Douglas DC-3 | 1970s | ||
| Douglas DC-4 | 1970s | ||
| McDonnell Douglas DC-9 | 1973 | ||
| McDonnell Douglas DC-10-30 | 1996 | Sold to Northwest Airlines | |
| McDonnell Douglas MD-11 | 2005 | ||
| McDonnell Douglas MD-82 | 2005 | Boeing 737-800/900 | |
| McDonnell Douglas MD-83 | 2005 | Boeing 737-800/900 | |
| Fokker F27 Friendship | 1980s | ||
| Fokker F28 Fellowship | 1989 | ||
| Fokker F100 | 2005 | Boeing 737-800/900 | Selling to Iran Aseman Airlines |
| NAMC YS-11 | 1976 |
Cabin
In 2005, Korean Air invested more than one billion dollars to enhance the passenger in-flight experience by introducing new products and services. New products include new sleeper seats for First and Business Class, as well as personal In-Flight Entertainment (IFE) devices. These products are available in newly delivered Boeing 777-200 aircraft as well as select Boeing 747-400 aircraft. The new cabin will gradually be added to all long haul aircraft.
As of June 27, 2007, Korean Air's new cabin is available on flights to and from Los Angeles, Las Vegas, Seattle, Atlanta, Chicago, New York, Washington D.C., Tokyo, Osaka, Nagoya, Guam, Beijing, Shanghai, Paris, Frankfurt, London, and Manila.
First Class - Kosmo Sleeper Seat
Korean Air's new first class offers passengers a "Kosmo Sleeper Seat" that can recline to 180 degrees. Custom made for Korean Air, the new fabric seat is 30 inches wide and is equipped with privacy partitions and AVOD (Audio Visual On Demand) entertainment. Also, lumber massage, movable side armrests, a buddy seat (auxiliary seat) and individual reading lights are added to the new seat.
Business Class - Prestige Plus Seat
The new "Prestige Plus Seat" reclines to 170 degrees, which is almost a flat bed. The seat comes with individual reading lights, privacy partitions and AVOD (Audio Visual On Demand) entertainment.
Economy Class
Korean Air's new economy class features a slim-line design. Every seat is equipped with adjustable headrests, footrests, a cup holder and an 8.4" personal screen that features AVOD (Audio Visual On Demand) entertainment.
Experience
In-flight entertainment
All classes in newly retrofitted/ delivered aircraft is equipped with personal LCD touch-screens featuring AVOD (Audio Visual On Demand). The system is named SKY. Offerings include a selection of over forty newly released movies, 60 short programs, over four thousand songs on 300 CDs and ten latest games. Selections also include channels dedicated exclusively to programming on Korean pop culture, music and the Korean movies and dramas.
All selections are available to all passengers in various passengers' languages. Unique to the SKY system, the interactive feature allows passengers to use a "My Music" feature to customize a personal jukebox to listen to for the duration of the flight. Korean Air will roll-out enhanced video and audiovisual services through this system to all newly acquired aircraft, as it will be one of the first Asian carriers to receive the Airbus 380.
It is important to note, however, that AVOD or indeed personal screens are NOT available on many international flights, for example, Seoul - Brisbane, Seoul - Frankfurt, Seoul - Paris, Seoul - London.
Interior
A new color scheme of aircraft seats was introduced to make passengers comfortable. Celadon green, a color that is characteristic to Korea, has been incorporated as the primary dominant colors to all First Class, Business Class and Prestige Class seats.
In addition, dark blue and mocha chocolate was used for economy class seats.
Dining
Korean Air is introducing tableware designed by Kwangjuyo, a Korean ceramics and dining ware manufacturer. The enhanced tableware will also be supplemented by Korean Air Wedgwood flatware, which provides the official tableware to the United Kingdom's royal monarchy.
Kwangjuyo flatware emblazoned with the Korean Air logo will also feature traditional Korean brushwork. The flatware will feature images from an ancient Koguryo painting called "Four Seasons of White Forsythia." These images will be laser-drawn on all First Class and selected Business Class tableware. Prestige Class tableware will have laser-etched and screened images of another famous Korean painting, known as the "Four Seasons of a Willow."
Korean Air has also commissioned Kwangjuyo to redesign an offering for all its Economy Class tableware. Reports indicate that this tableware will incorporate traditional Korean shapes and this roll-out is scheduled to be completed in late 2007. The newly redesigned Economy Class tableware will be pressed into service to all flights originating from Korea, the United States and other destinations.
Korean Air offers a variety of Korean traditional meals in-flight, available in all classes. Bibimbap (Assorted vegetables accompanied with steamed rice, Korean spicy sauce red-pepper paste known as Kochujang and sesame oil), a Mercury Award winner in 1997, is the airline's signature offering. It has a few variations, including beef bibimbap and salmon bibimbap.
In 2006, Bibim Noodles (Spicy Korean Noodles), a newly introduced in-flight meal that was adopted in the in-flight menu as a second meal option on long haul flights, won the Mercury Award, making this the second time that Korean Air has won this award. Healthy, vegetarian Korean meals have been integrated into all in-flight menus and presented by KAL Catering to all out-bound destinations in Korean Air's global network.
Other than Bibimbap and Bibim Noodles, Korean porridge (jook), bulgogi and kalbi are also available. Enhanced Korean traditional court cuisine has been launched in First Class, Business Class, Prestige Class and Premium Economy classes due to Korea's pop culture being the focus of hallyu, and in response to passengers' interest in all things Korean. Japanese style kaiseiki meals are offered to all cities to which Korean Air flies to all Japan destinations.
SKYPASS
SKYPASS is the frequent flyer program of Korean Air. "SKYPASS" also refers to the blue card which Korean Air frequent flyers are given. SKYPASS's motto is "Beyond your Imagination," which is also printed on the card. The program's elite levels are comparable to those of other airlines' frequent flyer programs, requiring members to fly a certain number of miles per two-year cycle. Qualification for the highest level is based on lifetime flight miles, requiring a customer to fly 1 million miles. Membership in this level is granted for life.
A newly re-enhanced and redesigned Skypass program was recently presented to Korean Air's customers at the same time it upgraded all of its corporate identity programs, in conjunction with Landor.
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Codeshare agreements
Korean Air has codeshare agreements with the following airlines as of July 2007:
Korean Air is an airline partner of Skywards, the frequent flyer program for Emirates and SriLankan Airlines. Skywards members can earn miles for flying Korean Air and can redeem miles for free flights.
Aerospace research and manufacturing
Unique to other airlines, Korean Air is also involved in aerospace research and manufacturing. The division, known as the Korean Air Aerospace Division (KAA), manufactures licensed versions of the MD 500 and UH-60 Black Hawk helicopters and the F-5E/F Tiger II fighter aircraft,[5] the aft fuselage and wings for the KF-16 fighter aircraft manufactured by Korean Aerospace Industries,[6] and parts for various commercial aircraft including the Boeing 737, 747, 777, and the Airbus A330, and A380.[7] KAA also provides aircraft maintenance support for the United States Department of Defense in Asia and maintains a research division with focuses on launch vehicle, satellite, commercial and military aircraft, helicopter, and simulation systems.[8]
See also
References
- ^ a b c "Directory: World Airlines". Flight International. 2007-04-03. p. 102.
- ^ Korean Air Corporate Fleet Information
- ^ Korean Air Fleet Age
- ^ Air International, July 2005
- ^ GlobalSecurity.org
- ^ Lockheed Martin - Republic of Korea
- ^ Carrier moonlights in aerospace
- ^ Korean Air Aerospace Division Official Website
External links
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