Korean Air Lounge at Incheon Airport ranked No.1 in Asia Pacific by United Kingdom’ Priority Pass

Korean Air’s Lounge at Incheon International Airport Concourse A has been named “Priority Pass Lounge of the Year 2010” in Asia Pacific by Priority Pass, a UK-based company that provides worldwide cross-airline airport lounge access.

In a survey of its one million-plus members worldwide this year, Priority Pass says Korean Air’s Incheon lounge was voted No.1 among 109 candidates in the Asia Pacific region.

Commenting on the award, Mr. Chi Chang-Hoon, President and Chief Operating Officer of Korean Air, said “We are very pleased that our efforts in providing our customers with a comfortable and enjoyable travel experience have been recognized by this prestigious award. We would like to thank our customers and all Priority Pass members for their continued support."

“This award serves to remind all of us at Korean Air to continue to work towards providing the best travel experience to our customers from ground to air. It also sits well with our ‘Excellence in Flight’ corporate slogan,” continued Mr. Chi. “Priority Pass Lounge of the Year” was created to honor excellence in airport lounge services worldwide and encourage enhancements.

Korean Air has partnered with Priority Pass since 1999 and currently has 13 lounges in the program, including New York, Los Angeles, and Tokyo.

 Korean Air lounge at Concourse A

Korean Air lounge at Concourse A

March 2010, Korean Air Monthly Video Newsletter

Korean Air monthly video newsletter, content of this issue contains of
(1) Korean Air’s Codeshare With Air Macau Begins.
(2) Hanjin Group Chairman Yang Ho Cho Named Peace and Sport Ambassador.
(3) New Korean Air TV Ads to Boost Tourism Ties with Australia.
(4) Online Raffle – Match the Images.
(5) TV Commercial ‘From Korea to Global’.

Click here to view the video newsletter.

Monaco’s Prince Albert puts the Peace and Sport’s golden pin on Chairman Cho’s jacket.

Korean Air TV Commercial - From Korea to Global

TV Commercial Still, Great Barrier Reef

TV Commercial Still, Hang Gliding

Online raffle - Mission, match the images!

Macau

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New Korean Air TV Ads to Boost Tourism Ties with Australia

To celebrate 20 years of flying to Australia, Korean Air today launches a new series of TV commercials in Korea to strengthen its tourism ties with Australia.


Thanks to its vibrant environment for business, education and culture, Australia has long been a popular destination. Korea’s Incheon Airport not only serves as a gateway to Australia for Koreans, but a growing number of travelers from China and Europe have also discovered the benefits of transiting via Incheon to Australia. To better serve this increasingly busy route, Korean Air flies daily between Incheon and Sydney, as well as thrice weekly to Melbourne and five times per week to Brisbane.

A crew of over 25 people invested more than 2 weeks to produce the ads spotlighting Australia as an exciting destination for the 20-30 age group. The Korean Air produced TV ads highlight the unique environment and breathtaking beauty of the land that is affectionately called “Down Under.”

As the title sponsor of “On-Game-Net Channel’s Starcraft League” online game in Korea, the airline invited one of the league’s top gamers to star in the ads. Through the eyes of the gamer, the ads aim to draw the viewers into the ads as the gamer scales the Sydney Harbour Bridge, cruises around the Great Barrier Reef, and soars above the land’s endless horizon on a hang-glider. Other magnificent scenes showcased in the ads include an exhilarating coastal drive along the Great Ocean Road.

As many as 162,000 Koreans have visited Australia in the first eleven months of 2009, according to the Australian Tourism Board. For two decades now Korean Air has served as a bridge between North Asia and Australia for countless travelers with its award winning service.

Korean Air expects the ads to help boost the number of visitors to Australia.

Australia - Great Barrier Reef

Australia - Hang Gliding

Morning Calm Magazine, February 2010

Korean Air in-flight magazine – Morning Calm, February 2010 issue which cover image of Korean brass candlestick.

Inside this issue:

Cover Story

• Cast in Steel

Special Feature

• At Dawn - Snow Falls
• Escapes - The Untamed East
• Growing Peanuts

Travel Section

• The Seas to the Sky
• Dancing with the Dragons
• Seoulite - Forever Young
• Hiddle Korea - A Winter's Tale

Korean Culture

• Guide of the Knife

Life Style

• Icy Sweet Success
• Scary Good
• History of the Eating
• Gorging on Gloop
• A Beautiful Whole
• To Really Move

The in-flight magazine is now available on all Korean Air flight.

Click here to browse this issue

Korean Air awarded by Global Traveler Readers

Korean Air recently awarded by Global Traveler Readers, this photo is taken at the award presentation ceremony.

Click here for the story.

Join Korean Air at social networking sites

To know more about Korean Air at social networking sites.

Twitter
Youtube
Facebook: Worldwide Fan page  
Facebook: Hong Kong Fan page
Facebook: Australia Fan page
Flickr
My Space

Korean Air Recorded Strong Performance in Q4 2009

Seoul, January 22, 2010 – Korean Air, South Korea’s flagship airline, announced today its results for the fourth quarter of 2009 ended December 31, 2009.


The airline posted an operating profit of 154 billion KRW for the fourth quarter, a significant increase of 580.9% compared to 22.6 billion KRW a year earlier, thanks to the surging growth of cargo business and a pick-up in the international passenger business in the reporting period. During the quarter, the airline recorded a net income of 122.3 billion KRW, compared to a loss of 644 billion KRW in the same quarter in the previous year. Operating revenue held steady at 2,578.2 billion KRW during the quarter in spite of a challenging operating environment for the aviation industry. International passenger and cargo businesses remained the major revenue contributors for the airline in Q4, accounting for 48.1% and 36.5% of the operating revenue respectively.

Lower fuel prices and a stronger Won have helped reduce the airline’s operating expense. During the reporting period, total operating expense reached 2,424.2 billion KRW, an Y-o-Y drop of 9.9%. The proportion of fuel cost lowered from 38% to 33% compared with the fourth quarter in 2008.


International Passenger Business
International passenger segment recorded a growth of 6.5% and 11.3% in passenger carrying capacity and traffic compared to a drop in the same period a year ago, reaching 18,746 million ASK and 13,444 million RPK respectively. Both figures were particularly strong in the month of December due to increasing air travel during the festive season. Moreover, an Y-o-Y growth in passenger sales from Japan and South Asia is observed, attributed to stronger Yen against the Won as well as increasing air traffic demand in the Asian region.

Cargo Business
The cargo business has picked up since September 2009 and reached new heights in the fourth quarter of 2009. Revenue generated from the cargo segment was up 22% Y-o-Y, becoming the major growth driver in total revenue during the reporting period. Demand for world cargo rose steadily as reflected in an improvement in capacity and traffic, up 6% and 15.2% Y-o-Y to 3,179 million AFTK and 2,408 million FTK respectively. The increased cargo traffic coincided with the usual busy season for the cargo business ahead of festivities such as Thanksgiving and Christmas, while a recovery in consumer spending worldwide also fueled the growth in this segment.

2010 Plans
The airline has made significant operational progress such as refurbishment of new generation premium seats as well as fleet expansion last year. Upholding its long-standing commitment to achieving “Excellence in Flight” as it always does, Korean Air will continue its approach in expanding and optimizing its business in a prudent manner, while aiming to provide the best quality in its service in 2010.

In terms of fleet expansion, the airline has announced orders to add Boeing 787s and Airbus 380s to its fleet mix. The airline expects to add seven more aircrafts to its fleet in 2010 and another 15 in 2011. Total investment amount in fleet purchase, upgrade and refurbishment will increase by over 50% in 2010, showing the airline’s determination in bringing the best travel experience and ultimate comfort to its passengers in the air.

Korean Air will continue its concerted efforts to maximize the profitability of the cargo business through different initiatives. With the turnaround in world cargo demand and the pick up of exports volume, the airline expects that this business segment will be the growth driver again in 2010 and revenue generated will reach another peak.

Other business initiatives such as network expansion by developing high-potential new markets and stringent cost-control will continue in 2010. Korean Air is confident that its focused growth strategies will help overcome any challenges even though the outlook of the aviation industry remains uncertain.

* Exchange rate on December 31, 2009: 1 US Dollar = [1167.6] KRW

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