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Company Info / History

   Track the history of Korean Air since its establishment in 1969 and discover how Korean Air becomes a leading airline in the aviation industry.

Late 2000s Early 2000s
Late 1990s Early 1990s
1980s 1970s

Late 2000s
2009
FEB
▶Recorded first-ever annual operating revenue over 10 trillion KRW in 2008
▶Added two A380 to fleet order, Upping A380 order to ten
MAR
▶Celebrated 40th anniversary, announced ‘Vision 2019’ business objectives
▶Completed heavy maintenance on 100th United Airlines B747-400 aircraft
APR
▶Announced redevelopment plan for LA Wilshire Grand Hotel and office site
▶Selected as Best Airline in China Top 5 by National Geographic Traveler China
▶Expanded codeshare with China Southern Airline
MAY
▶Opened Incheon~Navoi~Brussels cargo route
▶Awarded with Mongolian “Environmental Excellence Medal”
▶Opened service to Xian, China
JUN
▶Opened service to Mudanjiang, China
▶Introduced first new Boeing 777-300ER equipped with next generation seats
▶Opened service to Shizuoka, Japan
▶Ranked number one global cargo airline by IATA for fifth consecutive year (2004 ~ 2008)
▶Russia’s State Hermitage Museum sponsorship and Korean language guide service launch
JUL
▶2009. 7 First delivery of B747-8 wing component
▶2009. 7 Expanded codeshare with Uzbekistan Airways (Incheon ~ Tashkent route)
▶2009. 7 Top ranking for ‘2009 Global Customer Satisfaction Competency Index’ by JMAC for fifth consecutive year
2008
FEB
▶The fleet addition of the next-generation A380 aircraft is unveiled.
▶Korean Air is awarded the gold medal in the corporate section at the ATW-organized ‘2008 Advertisement Awards’.
▶Korean Air awarded the Best HRD Award in Korea for human resource development.
MAR
▶The new ‘City Guide Book’ (Paris edition) is written and published.
APR
▶New real-time Internet chatting/mobile phone text messaging consultation service opened.
▶Korean Air receives two ‘Freddie Awards’ sponsored by the U.S. publication ‘Inside Flyer’.
- ‘Best Member Communication’ (Asia/Pacific/Oceania region) - 1st Place
- ‘Best Customer Service’ (Asia/Pacific/Oceania region) – 2nd Place
MAY
▶Korean Air concludes an international air cargo MOU with Uzbekistan Airways.
▶Codeshare flights with China Eastern Airlines are expanded.
JUN
▶Korean Air launches additional long-distance routes including Seoul (Incheon) ~ Munich (Jun. 1) and Seoul (Incheon) ~ Sao Paolo (Jun. 2).
▶Korean Air commences flight service to Munich, Germany and Sao Paolo, Brazil.
▶Korean Air achieves the number one world ranking in international freight transport for the 4th consecutive year.
▶Certified for ‘Global Customer Satisfaction’ by JMAC, Korean Air places first in air passenger transport service for the 4th consecutive year.
JUL
▶The Inha University Food Safety Research Center is opened.
▶Jin Air is founded. (Gimpo ~ Jeju)
AUG
▶Began codeshare with Alaska Airlines and Horizon Air
▶Opened service to Tashkent, Uzbekistan
SEP
▶Opened service to Tel Aviv, Israel
DEC
▶Opened Gimp-Osaka route
▶Opened service to Milan, Italy
▶Selected Best Airline in Asia, Best Business Class to Asia/Trans-pacific, and Best Airline Advertising Campaign by Business Traveler (US)
▶Opened Incheon-Osaka-Guam service
▶Hanjin Group and Uzbekistan signed the Navoi International Airport Management Agreement
2007
JAN
▶Selected 'Best Business Class to Asia/Trans-Pacific' by Business Traveler (US)
▶Sign sponsorship to support 'Rain' World Tour ? "Rain's Coming"
▶Launch cargo service to Moscow
FEB
▶Korean Air on-board wine selected as ‘Best Wine of 2006’
MAR
▶S-Oil treasury stock acquired by the Hanjin Group
▶“Flying Mom Service” wins gold medal for on-board service air given by the International Travel Catering Association (ITCA)
Selected as number one in the world in on-time flight operation by Boeing and Airbus
APR
▶Selected for the Best Economy Class Award by OAG of the U.K.
JUL
▶Opened service to Calgary, Canada
▶Concluded partnership with the Louvre Museum
▶Enrolled in the U.N. Global Compact
▶Korean Air selected by Skytrax as the ‘Best Economy Class Airline’
AUG
▶Completed exclusive development of indigenous surveillance unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV)
▶Acquired the 3000th aircraft manufactured at the Boeing Everett factory
SEP
▶Opened service to Zhengzhou, China
▶Selected for the 2007 ‘True Company Award’
▶Three associate carriers welcomed into SkyTeam
▶World Airline Entertainment Association’s (WAEA) 2007 Avion Awards ‘Best Achievement in In Flight Entertainment’ Top 3 and ‘Best in Region – Asia & Australasia’ Top 3
OCT
▶Launch regular passenger service to Melbourne.
▶Launch regular passenger service to Chiang Mai.
NOV
▶China Southern Airline joins SkyTeam.
DEC
▶Selected 'Best Business Class to Asia/Trans-Pacific' by Business Traveler(US)
2006
JAN
▶Sign with CBB to become Asia's first authorized modification center.
▶Begin Internet Advance Seat Selection Service for international flights.
▶Begin providing Amenity Kits for Economy Class passengers in longhaul international flights.
FEB
▶Win the ATW Phoenix Award
▶L cargo operation to Chennai, India
▶Win two in-flight catering awards from PAX International Association
▶New uniforms for frontline employees
MAR
▶Begin codeshare with AeroMexico
▶Begin in-flight live TV service
▶Receive Mercury Award for Bibimguksoo (Spicy Korean Noodles)
▶Begin Kiosk Express Check-In Service at Gimpo Airport (domestic routes)
APR
▶Begin codeshare with Kenya Airways
▶SkyTeam Launches Global Meetings Product
MAY
▶Launch regular passenger flights to Istanbul, Turkey
▶Receive A330 Operational Excellence Award
JUN
▶Launch regular passenger flights to Hakodate, Japan
▶Launch cargo operation to Seattle
▶Korean Air Lounge at Incheon Airport named No.1 in Asia Pacific by Priority Pass
JUL
▶Ranked by IATA as world’s largest commercial cargo carrier for second consecutive year
▶Korean Air President Jong Hee Lee receives La Legion d’Honneur Chevalier from France
▶Launch cargo operation to Miami
AUG
▶Begin freighter conversion project on first B747-400 airplane
▶Launch cargo operation to Stockholm
▶Launch regular passenger service to Yantai, Dalian, Weihai
SEP
▶Begin codeshare with Czech Airline on inter-European routes
▶Begin service organic meals on longhaul international flights
▶Launch mobile Skypass card system
▶Sign agreement with Sinotrans to establish Cargo Joint Venture in China
▶Launch regular passenger service to Las Vegas, Guangzhou
OCT
▶Start publishing in-flight entertainment monthly magazine ‘Beyond’
▶‘Best First/Business Class’ and ‘Best FFP Program’ by TIME Asia Readers’ Travel Choice Awards
▶Launch regular passenger flights to Kota Kinabalu, Pattaya
▶Expand Online In-Flight Lost & Found Center to overseas regions
NOV
▶Launch regular passenger service to Kathmandu
DEC
▶Sign agreement to provide weather information gathered by planes to the Korea Meteorological Administration (KMA)
▶Selected as Airline of the Year for Asia by PAX International Association (catering)
▶Launch cargo service to Qingtao, Tel Aviv
▶Launch Pusan ~ Beijing regular passenger service
▶Korean Air web members exceed 5 million

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