Korean Air

Korean Air Lines Co., Ltd. (KRX: 003490), operating as Korean Air, is both the flag carrier and the largest airline of South Korea, with global headquarters located in Seoul, South Korea. Korean Air's international passenger division and related subsidiary cargo division together serve 130 cities in 45 countries, while its domestic division serves 20 destinations. It is among the top 20 airlines in the world in terms of passengers carried and is also the top-ranked international cargo airline. Incheon International Airport serves as Korean Air's international hub. Korean Air also maintains a satellite headquarters campus at Incheon.

Founding
Korean Air was founded by the South Korean government in 1962 as Korean Air Lines to replace Korean National Airlines, which was founded in 1946. On 1 March 1969 the Hanjin Transport Group took control of the airline. Long-haul freight operations were introduced on 26 April 1971 followed by passenger services to Los Angeles International Airport (LAX) on 19 April 1972.

International flights to Hong Kong, Taiwan, and Los Angeles were flown with Boeing 707s until the introduction of Boeing 747 in 1973. In 1973, the airline introduced Boeing 747s on their Pacific routes and in the same year started a European service to Paris, France using the 707 and the DC-10. In 1975 the airline became one of the first Asian airlines to operate Airbus aircraft with the purchase of three A300s, which were put into immediate service on Asian routes.

Change to 'Korean Air'
A blue-top, silver and redesigned livery with a new corporate "Korean Air" logo featuring an accented, stylized "taegeukgi" design was introduced on 1 March 1984 and the airline's name changed to Korean Air from Korean Air Lines. This livery was introduced on its Fokker F28s. 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 also-new fleet of Boeing 747-400s. However, the MD-11 did not meet the airline's performance requirements and they were converted to freighters. The airline also converted some 747s to freighters.

Further expansion and founding of Jin Air
In the 1980s Korean Air's head office was in the KAL Building on Namdaemunno, Jung-gu, Seoul.

As of 2007, Korean Air was in negotiations to open its China hub in Beijing or Shanghai by the end of 2008.

On 5 June 2007, Korean Air said that it would create a new low-cost carrier called Jin Air in Korea to compete with Korea's KTX super-high speed railway network system, which offers cheaper fares and less stringent security procedures compared to air travel. Korean Air's low-cost subsidiary is Jin Air, which started its scheduled passenger service from Seoul to Jeju on 17 July 2008. Korean Air announced that some of its B737s and A300s would be given to Jin Air.

By 2009 Korean Air's image had become more prestigious, differing from the airline's late-1990s image, which had been tarnished by several fatal accidents.

In mid-2010, a co-marketing deal with games company Blizzard Entertainment sent a B747-400 and a B737-900 taking to the skies wrapped in StarCraft II branding. In August 2010, Korean Air announced heavy second-quarter losses despite record high revenue. Also in August 2010, Hanjin Group (the parent of Korean) opened a new cargo terminal at Navoi in Uzbekistan, which will become a cargo hub with regular Incheon-Navoi-Milan flights.

Introduction of Airbus A380
In May 2011, the carrier took delivery of its first Airbus A380, and signed a deal with Amadeus IT Group that outsourced the carrier's reservation and passenger processing systems. Korean Air's A380s currently serve Tokyo, Hong Kong, New York, and Los Angeles from its Incheon hub.

Major centers
Korean Air's main global headquarters campus, the Korean Air Operations Center (대한항공 빌딩 ), is located in Gonghang-dong, Gangseo-gu in Seoul. Korean Air also maintains a domestic office campus at Gimpo International Airport in Seoul. Korean Air's lesser domestic hubs are based at Jeju International Airport, Jeju and Gimhae International Airport, Busan. The maintenance facilities are located in Gimhae International Airport.

The airline had 16,623 employees (as of March 2007).

Korean Air's main global headquarters campus, the Korean Air Operations Center (대한항공 빌딩 ), is located in Gonghang-dong, Gangseo-gu in Seoul.

The North America headquarters for passenger operations is located in Westlake, Los Angeles, United States, while its cargo operations for North America are on the property of Los Angeles International Airport in Westchester, Los Angeles.

The European headquarters are located in the City of Westminster, London. The French office is in the 1st arrondissement of Paris. The German office is in Westend, Frankfurt.

The Commonwealth of Independent States headquarters are located in Tverskoy District, Central Administrative Okrug, Moscow, Russia.

Its Southeast Asia/Oceania headquarters are in the Ocean Tower (海洋大楼 Hǎiyáng Dàlóu) in Singapore.

Its Japanese headquarters are in the Tokyo Korean Air Building (KALビル) in Shiba, Minato, Tokyo.

Its Chinese offices are in the Hyundai Motor Tower (现代汽车大厦 Xiàndài qìchē dàshà) in Chaoyang District, Beijing. Its Hong Kong sales office is in Tower 2 of the South Seas Center (南洋中心 Mandarin: Nányáng Zhōngxīn) in Kowloon.

Four-star rating
Skytrax rates Korean Air as a four-star (out of five) airline. As of Spring 2011, Korean Air offers the broadest selections of Asian routes departing from North America. Its main rival is Asiana Airlines, the second largest South Korean carrier. Korean Air is a founding partner airline of SkyTeam, the world's second largest airline alliance.

Destinations
Korean Air, along with Air France, British Airways, Delta Air Lines, Emirates Airlines, Qantas, Qatar Airways, Singapore Airlines, South African Airways, and United Airlines, is one of the few airlines that fly to all six inhabited continents.

Codeshare agreements
Korean Air has codeshare agreements, beside SkyTeam members, with the following airlines:

Korean Air is an airline partner of Skywards, the frequent-flyer program for Emirates. Skywards members can earn miles for flying Korean Air and can redeem miles for free flights. In addition, on certain routes Korean Air's codesharing agreement with Malaysia Airlines also allows Malaysia Airline's Enrich members to earn miles even though when flying with Korean Air.

Fleet
The Korean Air Boeing customer code is B5; hence, any aircraft purchased directly from Boeing features this code in registration (747-400 - 747-4B5).

Its fleet consists of the following aircraft (on 01 Jul 2011):

Korean Air is the first Airbus A380 customer to dedicate the entire upper deck of the A380 to business class passengers (comprising 94 of Korean Air’s lie-flat Prestige Class business seating). Korean Air announced on 4 December 2009 that it would order five Boeing 747-8 Intercontinental aircraft worth $1.5 billion in list prices. This is in addition to the seven Boeing 747-8F freighters Korean Air Cargo will be operating. On 6 February 2012, the first Boeing 747-8F and Boeing 777F aircraft were delivered to Korean Air becoming the first airline in the world to operate both of these aircraft.

Aircraft interiors
Korean Air serves four types of first classes, three types of business (Prestige) classes, and a two types of economy class.

First Classes are either "Kosmo Suite" (on entire Boeing 777-300ER fleet, some 777-200ER fleet, all Airbus A380 fleet) seats, "Kosmo Sleeper" (on some Boeing 747-400 and 777-200ER fleet), Sleeper (on some Boeing 747-400 and 777-300 and all Airbus 330), and old first class seats. All "Kosmo Suites", "Kosmo Sleeper", and "Sleeper" seats recline to 180 degrees, while old first class seats, which are in the process of being phased out, recline up to 150 degrees.

Prestige Class seats are either "Prestige Sleeper" (on entire 777-300ER, 777-200ER fleet that feature "Kosmo Suites" seats, and A380 fleet), "Prestige Plus" (on most Boeing 777-200ER, Boeing 747-400 and one Boeing 777-300), or old Prestige Class seats. "Prestige Sleeper" seats recline to 180 degrees, while Prestige Plus seats recline up to 172 degrees. Old Prestige Class seats recline up to 138 degrees. Old Prestige Class seats are being phased out except for Airbus 300-600, Boeing 747-400 Combi, and Boeing 737 aircraft.

Economy class seats recline up to 121 degrees, and a new type of seats called New Economy Class are installed on all of Boeing 777-300ER and Boeing 777-200ER aircraft with Kosmo Suite, all Boeing 777-300 aircraft, some Airbus A330-300 and 200 aircraft, and Airbus A380 when they enter service.

The brand new first class, the "Kosmo Suites" seats, and the Prestige class, "Prestige Sleeper" seats were first introduced in the Boeing 777-300ERs in May 2009. Both seats could stretch to 180 degrees, and became more private than seats before.

The color 'Celadon Green', which represents the characteristics of Korea, is incorporated as the primary dominant colors to all "First Class" and "Prestige Class" seats. Dark blue and Mocha Chocolate colors are used in economy seats.

The Korean Air Airbus A380-800 aircraft also feature an in-flight bar, called the Celestial Bar in partnership with Absolut Vodka, featuring a range of Absolut cocktails along with an integrated lounge space. It is located on the upper deck Business Class cabin and accessible only to First and Prestige class passengers.

On the lower deck of the A380, there is a Lancome-designed Duty Free shop located in the rear of the cabin as well which is available to all passengers.

Loyalty program
SKYPASS is the frequent-flyer program of Korean Air. "SKYPASS" also refers to the blue card which Korean Air frequent flyers are given. The motto of SKYPASS is "Beyond your Imagination". The program's elite levels are comparable to those of other airlines' frequent flyer programs, requiring members to fly a 30,000 miles per two-year cycle.(initial entry into this level requires 50,000 miles) Qualification for the highest level is based on lifetime flight miles, requiring a customer to fly 1 million miles for Million Miler, which is the highest elite status, or 500,000 miles for Morning Calm Premium, which comes second. Both membership levels are eligible for SkyTeam Elite Plus privileges. Membership in these levels are granted for life.

Aerospace research and manufacturing
Korean Air is also involved in aerospace research and manufacturing. The division, known as the Korean Air Aerospace Division (KAL-ASD), manufactures licensed versions of the MD 500 and UH-60 Black Hawk helicopters and the F-5E/F Tiger II fighter aircraft, the aft fuselage and wings for the KF-16 fighter aircraft manufactured by Korean Aerospace Industries, and parts for various commercial aircraft including the Boeing 737, 747, 777, 787 and the Airbus A330, and A380. In 1991 the division designed and flew the Korean Air Chang-Gong 91 light aircraft. 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.

Incidents and accidents
Korean Air had many fatal accidents between 1970 and 1999, during which time it wrote off 16 aircraft in serious incidents and accidents with the loss of 700 lives. On Sept. 1, 1983, Korean Air Lines Flight 007, carrying 269 people, including a sitting U.S. Congressman, Larry McDonald, was shot down by the Soviets west of Sakhalin Island. Since the last fatality in 1999, safety has greatly improved, and the airline ranks among the best in the 21st century. The last fatal passenger incident was the Korean Air Flight 801 crash in 1997. The last crew fatality was Korean Air Cargo flight 8509 in December 1999.