Category Archives: Korean Air

Korean Air lands in Houston

Korean Air (Seoul) is now operating daily nonstop service between Houston’s George Bush Intercontinental Airport (IAH) and Incheon International Airport in Seoul. America’s largest Asian airline officially launched its Houston service on May 2, with the morning arrival of its Boeing 777-200 aircraft.

Nonstop flights connecting the two destinations will depart from the Terminal D facility at George Bush Intercontinental Airport every morning at 10:40 a.m. (CST Houston time), with the return flight departing Seoul at 9:10 a.m. local time at Incheon International Airport.

Korean Air, a member of the SkyTeam Alliance, already operates nonstop flights to Atlanta, Chicago, Dallas, Honolulu, Las Vegas, Sao Paulo, Toronto, Vancouver and Washington, D.C.

Korean Air:

Japan Airlines and Korean Air to expand their codeshare agreement

JAL-Japan Airlines (Tokyo) and Korean Air (Seoul), both codeshare partners since 2004, have agreed to further expand their codeshare flights on all routes and flights operated by Korean Air between Japan and South Korea from April 22, 2014.

Flight Number	Route	Dep. Time (Local time)	Arr. Time (Local time)	Days of Operation
JL5253 / KE768	Aomori – Seoul (Incheon)	13:25	16:00	Wed. Fri. Sun.
JL5252 / KE767	Seoul (Incheon) – Aomori	10:10	12:30	Wed. Fri. Sun.
JL5255 / KE770	Akita – Seoul (Incheon)	13:50	16:20	Mon. Thu. Sat.
JL5254 / KE769	Seoul (Incheon)-Akita	10:30	12:45	Mon. Thu. Sat.
JL5257 / KE720	Haneda – Seoul (Incheon)	06:25	08:50	Daily
JL5256 / KE719	Seoul (Incheon) – Haneda	20:55	23:05	Daily

JL5259 / KE792	Oita – Seoul (Incheon)	15:45	17:20	Fri.
JL5259 / KE792	Oita – Seoul (Incheon)	18:55	20:30	Sun.
JL5258 / KE791	Seoul (Incheon) – Oita	13:10	14:45	Fri.
JL5258 / KE791	Seoul (Incheon) – Oita	16:20	17:55	Sun.
JL5261 / KE748	Okayama – Seoul (Incheon)	10:00	11:35	Daily
JL5260 / KE747	Seoul (Incheon) – Okayama	18:40	20:10	Daily
JL5265 / KE784	Fukuoka – Busan	11:05	12:00	Daily
JL5267 / KE798	Fukuoka – Busan	19:45	20:40	Daily
JL5264 / KE783	Busan – Fukuoka	09:15	10:05	Daily
JL5266 / KE797	Busan – Fukuoka	17:55	18:45	Daily
JL5263 / KE772 (*2)	Sapporo (Chitose) – Busan	12:35	15:15	Tue. Thu. Sat.
JL5262 / KE771 (*2)	Busan – Sapporo (Chitose)	09:15	11:35	Tue. Thu. Sat.
JL5269 / KE756	Nagoya – Jeju	11:55	13:50	Wed. Fri. Sun.
JL5268 / KE755	Jeju – Nagoya	15:00	16:45	Wed. Fri. Sun.

Note:
*1. All of the above flights are operated by KE.
*2. Sapporo = Busan route will start from April 26, 2014.

Top Copyright Photo: Michael B. Ing/AirlinersGallery.com. JAL’s Boeing 737-846 JA312J (msn 35341) in the old 2002 livery arrives at Tokyo (Narita).

JAL-Japan Airlines:

Korean Air:

Bottom Copyright Photo: Michael B. Ing/AirlinersGallery.com. Boeing 737-9B5 HL7706 (msn 29991) also arrives at Tokyo (Narita).

Korean Air is coming to Houston

Korean Air (Seoul) will launch four flights a week for its Seoul (Incheon) hub to Houston’s Bush Intercontinental Airport (IAH) on May 2 according to Airline Route. The new route will be operated with Boeing 777-200 ERs.

Copyright Photo: TMK Photography/AirlinersGallery.com. Boeing 777-2B5 ER HL7530 (msn 27945) of Korean Air arrives at Toronto (Pearson).

Korean Air:

Czech Airlines to get another new airline partner: Travel Service Airlines

Czech Airlines-CSA (Prague) and partner Korean Air (Seoul) have announced Korean Air has exercised its option and brought in another equity partner. Travel Service Airlines (Prague) is acquiring a 34 percent share in Czech Airlines. Korean Air retains its 44 percent share.

The airlines issued this statement:

Czech Aeroholding has been informed by Korean Air about its requirement to use option to exercise its right to purchase further 34% of Czech Airline stock from Czech Aeroholding. This step is in accordance with the purchase contract on the sale of 44% of Czech Airline stock signed by Korean Air and Czech Aeroholding in April this year. Korean Air will subsequently sell 34% stake to Travel Service, an air carrier, which will thus become a co-shareholder of Czech Airlines thus joining Korean Air which holds 44% of shares, Czech Aeroholding with the final share of 19.74% and Ceska Pojistovna which will continue to hold its 2.26% share in Czech Airlines.

Korean Air explains the decision to exercise its option on further 34% of the Czech Airlines shares which is to be subsequently sold to Travel Service by its plan to reinforce its operations in Europe. Working together with Travel Service, the company wishes to make Vaclav Havel Airport Prague its European hub. The entry of Travel Service into Czech Airlines will provide Korean Air with connections to approximately 40 new destinations in Europe to which their passengers will be able to fly after their transfer at Vaclav Havel Airport Prague.

As early as in spring of this year, Korean Air purchased 44% of Czech Airlines shares from Czech Aeroholding which it will continue to hold. Now it wishes to use the Czech Airlines platform to collaborate with Travel Service. With regard to the fact that Travel Service, the new shareholder, is a Czech air carrier, Czech Airlines will not lose the status of the so called national carrier.

“We regard the development of Vaclav Havel Airport Prague aiming to make it a Central-European hub as absolutely crucial. The fact that Korean Air is bringing another key partner into Czech Airlines represents a step toward fulfilling this aim. I am convinced this partnership will be advantageous particularly for passengers who, in future, will be able to choose from a more quality product – a wide network of destinations – provided by the three carriers,” said Miroslav Dvorak, chairman of the Board of Directors and CEO of Czech Aeroholding.

In spite of the fact that the contractual documentation might be signed as promptly as possible, it will surely include suspensory conditions. This is because the entire transaction is first subject to approval by the competent antitrust authorities, which may take several months before it can take effect.

In the context of changes of the Czech Airlines shareholder structure, Philippe Moreels, the current President and Chairman of the Board, announced its intention to resign from both positions. “I welcome the entry of Travel Service into Czech Airlines and also perceive it as the culmination of the company’s intensive four year restructuring period. In this new phase, Czech Airlines is going to need some new blood and a change in its management style. Therefore, it is logical that all the shareholders will agree on a new company president after the transaction has been completed. Until then, I will continue to be available and will be working on all the steps necessary allowing the transaction to bring a synergy effect to allthe partners as soon as possible,” said Philippe Moreels about his intention to resign from both his positions after the transaction has been approved by antitrust authorities.

After the transaction has been approved by antitrust authorities, the Czech Airlines statutory bodies will continue to consist of three members and their composition will reflect the new shareholder structure of the company.

Top Copyright Photo: Karl Cornil/AirlinersGallery.com. Airbus A319-112 OK-NEM (msn 3406) of Czech Airlines arrives in Amsterdam with the special 90 Years (1923-2013) logo.

Czech Airlines-CSA:

Travel Service Airlines:

Korean Air:

Bottom Copyright Photo: Paul Bannwarth/AirlinersGallery.com. Travel Service Airlines’ (Czech Republic) Boeing 737-8CX OK-TVB (msn 32362) prepares to land in Nantes, France.

Korean Air finalizes its order with Boeing

Korean Air (Seoul) and Boeing (Chicago) have finalized an order for five 747-8 Intercontinentals and six 777-300 ER (Extended Range) jetliners that was announced as a commitment during the Paris Air Show in June. In addition, Korean Air has also announced an order for one additional 787 Dreamliner. The value of the combined order is valued at $3.9 billion at current list prices.

With this order Korea’s flag carrier expands its backlog of 747-8 Intercontinentals and 777-300ERs to 10 each. The order also increases Korean Air’s 787 backlog to 11.

Korean Air is currently the only airline in the world to order both the passenger and freighter variations of the 747-8. The airline also became the first international carrier to simultaneously operate both the 747-8 and 777 Freighter.

Korean Air’s current fleet of 90 Boeing passenger airplanes consists of 737, 747 and 777 airplanes. The airline also operates an all-Boeing cargo fleet of 27 747-400, 747-8 and 777 Freighters. The airline’s Aerospace Division is also a key Boeing partner on both the 747-8 and 787 programs, supplying the distinctive raked wing-tips for each model.

Copyright Photo: Michael B. Ing/AirlinersGallery.com. Korean Air’s Boeing 777-3B5 ER HL8275 (msn 37651) arrives in Los Angeles.

Korean Air:

Korean Air agrees to order five Boeing 747-8s and six additional 777-300 ERs

Boeing (Chicago) and and Korean Air (Seoul) today announced that the airline has agreed to purchase five 747-8 Intercontinental airplanes and six 777-300 ER (Extended Range) jetliners, valued at approximately $3.6 billion at current list prices. Boeing will work with Korean Air to finalize the order, at which time the order will be posted to Boeing’s Orders and Deliveries website.

Korean Air is the only airline in the world to order both the passenger and freighter variations of the 747-8. When today’s order is finalized, Korea’s flag carrier will have 10 747-8 Intercontinental airplanes on order. The airline has taken delivery of three of its seven 747-8 Freighters on order.

Korean Air currently operates a fleet of 90 Boeing passenger airplanes that consist of 737, 747 and 777 airplanes. The airline also operates an all-Boeing cargo fleet of 27 747-400, 747-8 and 777 Freighters. In February 2012, Korean Air became the first airline in the world to operate both the 747-8 and 777 Freighters.

Top Copyright Photo: Michael B. Ing/AirlinersGallery.com. Korean Air is already an operator of the Boeing 747-800F freighter. Korean Air Cargo Boeing 747-8HTF HL7609 (msn 37132) climbs briskly in the Southern California sky after departing from Los Angeles International Airport.

Korean Air:

Bottom Copyright Photo: Royal S. King/AirlinersGallery.com. Boeing 777-3B5 ER HL7782 (msn 37643) lands at Paine Field near Everett.

Korean Air finalizes its 44% investment in Czech Airlines

Czech Airlines-CSA (Prague) has a new savior. Announced last month, Korean Air (Seoul) finalized its 44 percent investment in the flag carrier yesterday (April 11). The Czech government has now been successful in finding a viable airline partner to help the struggling carrier survive the difficult current environment in Europe. Without a new partner, Czech Airlines would have been liquidated by the government.

However Korean Air has publicly stated it is not interested in managing the the Czech carrier. Korean Air is likely to use its new investment as a feeder airline for its Asian flights.

Read the full report from Reuters: CLICK HERE

Czech Airlines:

Korean Air:

Czech government approves the Korean Air $3.4 million bid to acquire 44% of Czech Airlines

Czech Airlines-CSA (Prague) will have a new airline partner. The Czech government has approved Korean Air‘s (Seoul) $3.4 million offer to acquire 44 percent of the stock of state-owned Czech Airlines.

Read the full report from The Financial Times: CLICK HERE

Czech Airlines-CSA:

Korean Air submits a bid to acquire 44% of the stock of unprofitable Czech Airlines

Korean Air (Seoul) has submitted a proposal to acquire 44 percent of the shares of unprofitable Czech Airlines-CSA (Prague) according to this report by the Wall Street Journal. Reportedly Korean was the only bidder for this minority share. The airline is currently owned by the Czech Ministry of Finance (56.92%), Czech Consolidation Agency (34.59%) and other Czech institutions.

Previously in December 2012, Czech Airlines announced it would acquire the Airbus A330 starting in June 2013, enabling the flag carrier to launch new scheduled service to Seoul, South Korea, and to initiate more intensive code-share cooperation with Korean Air in operating long-haul flights from Prague via Seoul to Asia.

Korean Air wants a larger presence in Europe and, if successful, would not interfere with Czech management of the company.

Read the full report: CLICK HERE

On the financial side, KAL issued this statement:

Korean Air, South Korea’s flagship airline, has announced its financial results for the fourth quarter and full year ending December 31, 2012.

Due to weak economic recovery and high fuel prices, Korean Air posted an operating income of 3,083.5 billion KRW for the fourth quarter of 2012, and an operating loss of 17.6 billion KRW. International passenger and cargo business remained the major revenue contributors for the airline in Q4, accounting for 56.4% and 26.5% of the operating revenue respectively. Compared to the same period last year net income for Q4 increased by 215.1% to 140.3 billion KRW.

For the full year of 2012, the airline recorded an operating income of 12,728 billion KRW, up 3.7% year-on-year, and an operating profit of 322.4 billion KRW. The net income for 2012 returned to the black and reached 256.4 billion KRW.

Copyright Photo: Jacek Fiszer. Czech Airlines has retired its Boeing fleet and now operates an Airbus and ATR fleet only. Airbus A319-112 OK-PET (msn 4258) approaches Warsaw.

Czech Airlines-CSA:

Korean Air:

Boeing delivers the first 777 built at the increased rate

Boeing (Chicago) has delivered the first 777 built at the increased production rate of 8.3 per month, or 100 airplanes per year. The airplane, a 777 Freighter, was delivered to Korean Air (Seoul).

In the past 32 months, the 777 program has increased its production rate twice. The rate went from five to seven per month in 2011, and now to the all-time high of 8.3 per month.

1,072 777s have been delivered through the end of January and a total of 1,431 have been ordered from 66 customers around the globe.

Korean Air: