Starting way back in late 2020, Korean Air began their takeover of Asiana Airlines. At a cost of well over $1 billion USD, Korean Air became a majority owner of Asiana and converted it into one of their subsidiaries. This process finally came to an end in mid-December 2024, more than four years after it initially began. And Korean Air is celebrating by launching some big time upgrades to their offerings.
The company held a huge event on March 11, 2025 at their headquarters in Seoul, South Korea. They revealed a new logo for the airline, an updated aircraft livery, and enhanced onboard services. This updated branding is part of what can be seen as part of an ongoing relaunch of the company after the finalized merger with Asiana. The strategy will come to fruition in 2027 when the Asiana brand is phased out and is completely replaced by Korean Air.
In-flight meals, particularly on long haul flights, will undergo a major upgrade thanks to Chef Kim Sea-kyeong who may be best known for reinterpreting Korean food through a Western soul food lens. Premium cabins will experience new meals that are inspired by fine dining. Passengers traveling in economy will not be left out, though. Their livery will see updated and expanded offerings that will enhance their travel experience even further.
Owned by the Hanjin Group, Korean Air was founded in 1962 and began operations in 1969. It is the largest airline in South Korean based on metrics such as fleet size as well as international flights and destinations. And that was before the merger. By taking over Asiana Airlines, Korean Air has propelled itself into the upper echelon of worldwide airlines. Post-merger, it is estimated that Korean Air will now be the 11th largest airline in the world based on number of passengers.