Asiana Airlines

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Asiana Airlines Inc. (Template:Korean Template:Kse) is a South Korean airline headquartered in Seoul.<ref name="Home">"Home Template:Webarchive." Asiana Airlines. Retrieved 13 September 2010. "Address : Asiana Town, P.O. Box 98 47 Osoe-dong, Gangseo-gu, Seoul, Korea." Address in Korean Template:Webarchive: "Template:Lang." Map in Korean Template:Webarchive, Direct image link to map Template:Webarchive</ref> The airline operates 90 international passenger routes, 14 domestic passenger routes and 27 cargo routes throughout Asia, Europe, and North America. In 2019, it accounted for 25% of South Korea's international aviation market and 20% of its domestic market.<ref name="statistics">Template:Cite web</ref> It maintains its international hub at Incheon International Airport and its domestic hub at Gimpo International Airport, both in Seoul.

Asiana Airlines started merging with Korean Air in 2024, creating a dominant carrier in South Korea and completing a process that was initiated in 2020. It is a full-service airline member of Star Alliance. Asiana Airlines has two subsidiary low-cost carriers, Air Busan and Air Seoul: It is the largest shareholder of Air Busan, a regional carrier that the airline established as joint venture with Busan;<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> it also operates Air Seoul, a wholly owned subsidiary.

History

Founding

Korean Air, which was acquired by Hanjin Transportation in 1969, had a monopoly on the South Korean airline industry until the establishment of Asiana in 1988.<ref name=bamber>Template:Cite book</ref> Asiana's formation did not come about as a policy initiative favoring liberalized market conditions, but rather because of pressure from other chaebols and interests that wanted to compete.<ref name="APAT">Template:Cite book</ref> It was formed by the Kumho Asiana Group (formerly Kumho Group) and was originally known as Seoul Air International. Asiana was established on 17 February 1988 and started operations in December 1988 with flights to Busan. As of 2007, the airline was owned by domestic private investors (30.53%), Kumho Industrial (29.51%), Kumho Petrochemical (15.05%), foreign investors (11.9%), Korea Development Bank (7.18%), and others (5.83%).<ref name="FI">Template:Cite news</ref>

Beginning regular service

Asiana began operations in December 1988, using Boeing 737 Classic aircraft, with flights to Busan and Gwangju. In 1989, Asiana began regular services to Jeju City, Gwangju, and Daegu, and later that same year, began international chartered flights to Sendai in Japan. In 1990, Asiana began its first scheduled international services to the Japanese cities of Tokyo, Nagoya, Sendai, and Fukuoka. In the same year, Asiana had nine Boeing 747-400s, 20 Boeing 767-300s, and eight Boeing 737-400s. In early 1991, Asiana began services to Bangkok, Singapore, Hong Kong, and Taipei. Transpacific flights to Los Angeles began in December 1991 with a Boeing 747-400 Combi. Services to Vienna, Brussels, and Honolulu began in the mid-1990s. In 1993, Asiana began services in Ho Chi Minh City in Vietnam.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

Expansion as a global carrier and joining Star Alliance

Asiana Airlines has rapidly expanded since its establishment in 1988 to become a mid-sized global carrier with a fleet of 85 aircraft. In December 1998, the airline operated an aircraft on behalf of the president of South Korea for the first time.<ref>Template:Cite web. Flyasiana.com. Retrieved on 12 July 2013.</ref> The airline was listed in KOSDAQ In December 1999. On 28 January 2003, the airline became a full Star Alliance member, expanding its worldwide network and global brand. In 2004, the airline added Airbus A330s and the Boeing 777-200ERs to its fleet and expanded its routes into mainland China. Currently, it provides international services to 71 cities in 23 countries on 91 routes and domestic services to 12 cities on 14 routes. It also provides international cargo services to 29 cities in 14 countries on 28 routes by Asiana Cargo, the airline's freight division. In 2012, the airline had net sales of US$5.3 billion.<ref>Asiana Airlines Sustainability Report 2012 Template:Webarchive</ref>

New corporate identity

In February 2006, Asiana Airlines modernized its corporate identity for unification with those of other divisions of its parent company, the Kumho Asiana Group. The names of the travel classes have changed from first, business, and economy classes to first, business, and travel classes, respectively, and the colors of the travel classes have changed to yellow, blue, and red for first, business, and travel, respectively. New uniforms were also created for the crew.<ref>Asiana Airlines new colours Template:Webarchive</ref>

Financial crisis

In April 2019, Asiana Airlines' parent company, Kumho Asiana Group, announced its plan to sell Asiana Airlines as a solution to its financial crisis.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> Asiana Airlines discontinued several unprofitable routes in the summer and fall of 2019<ref>Template:Cite news</ref><ref>Template:Cite news</ref><ref>Template:Cite news</ref> and, that September, the Aekyung Group, Mirae Asset Daewoo, and Korea Corporate Governance Improvement applied a letter of intent to acquire Asiana Airlines.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> On 12 November, a consortium of HDC Hyundai Development Company and Mirae Asset Daewoo was selected as the preferred bidder.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref><ref>Template:Cite news</ref> The proposed purchase was approved in South Korea, China, Kazakhstan, Turkey, the United States, and Uzbekistan,<ref>Template:Cite web</ref><ref>Template:Cite web</ref> but the merger was canceled by Korea Development Bank, the primary creditor for Asiana Airlines, and Kumho Asiana Group. Asiana Airlines would be run by creditors until a new owner is approved by the South Korean government<ref>Template:Cite news</ref>

Asiana Airlines has chosen to retire older aircraft, including Boeing 747-400s and Boeing 767-300s, allowing the airline to reduce debt and weakness.Template:Citation needed

Merger with Korean Air

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On 16 November 2020, the Government of the Republic of Korea announced a policy of merging Asiana Airlines with Korean Air, which would acquire a 30.77% stake in Asiana from Korea Development Bank.<ref name="M&AwithKAL">Template:Cite news</ref> The Korean state-run bank would invest 800 billion won (US$600 million) to Hanjin KAL, the holding company of Korean Air, to fund the merger.<ref name="M&AwithKAL" /> The two airlines would operate as separate brands until integration is complete.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> The Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, and Transport planned to integrate subsidiaries Air Busan, Air Seoul, and Jin Air into a new low-cost airline. The combined low-cost carrier will focus on regional airports within South Korea and flying regional Asia-Pacific routes.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref>

2021

In March 2021, Korean Air announced it would delay the merger with Asiana Airlines due to a delay in antitrust approval from the government and six foreign authorities (China, Japan, Taiwan, Thailand, the United States, and Vietnam). Korean Air will operate Asiana Airlines as a subsidiary for the next two years, after which it will combine its operations, IT, and other systems into a single system until 2024.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref><ref>Template:Cite news</ref> Once the merger is complete, Asiana Airlines could become a member of SkyTeam. According to The Korea Times, only Turkey has approved the antitrust deal so far.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref>

On 30 June 2021, the post-merger plans between the two airlines were reported to have been finalized and approved by Korea Development Bank.

In August 2021, the Malaysian Aviation Commission approved the merger between Korean Air and Asiana Airlines, citing economic efficiencies and social benefits.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

On 16 November 2021, it was announced that Ministry of Industry and Trade of Vietnam had approved Korean Air's acquisition of smaller local rival Asiana Airlines Inc.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

2022

On 26 December 2022, the Ministry of Commerce of the People's Republic of China announced its approval of Korean Air's business combination with Asiana Airlines.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

2023

The U.S. Department of Justice blocked the deal in May 2023, citing monopoly concerns.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> In November 2023, Asiana agreed to divest its cargo business in an attempt to appease regulatory concerns.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref>

2024

On 28 November 2024, the European Commission approved the merger,<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> followed by the approval from the United States on 2 December 2024. Following approval from all 14 countries, Korean Air officially completed the acquisition of Asiana Airlines on 12 December 2024.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref><ref>Template:Cite web</ref><ref>Template:Cite web</ref><ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

Korean Air Co. said on August 7, 2024, it signed a tentative agreement valued at 470 billion won (US$341.7 million) to sell the cargo business division of Asiana Airlines Inc. to Air Incheon.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref><ref>Air Incheon buys Asiana Cargo Airliner World October 2014 page 17</ref><ref>Korean Air completes Asiana acquisition Airliner World March 2025 page 17</ref>

On 12 December 2024, Korean Air completed the purchase of the debt-laden Asiana Airlines in a deal worth 1.5 trillion won (US$1.6 billion). The deal enables Korean Air to acquire 63.88% in the second-largest airline in the country, becoming the 12th-largest airline in the world by international capacity.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

Towards integration with Korean Air in 2026

In December 2024, Asiana Airlines quietly launched its new brand identity after the merger, which includes the removal of the "red arrow" elements (also branded as the Asiana Wings) of the previous owner Kumho Asiana Group and using the aircraft tail as a replacement. The Kumho Asiana Group logo on the fuselage has been removed, and the red arrows on all the passenger aircraft in the fleet have also been either removed or covered.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>Template:Irrelevant citation

The brand identity of the two airlines will remain unchanged until the integration is fully completed and in the meantime, several integration process will be conducted, including appointing a new CEO and key executives, as well as the integration of the low-cost subsidiaries of both Korean Air and Asiana Airlines, including Jin Air, Air Busan and Air Seoul.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> Also, Asiana will end its 38 years of operation and will be integrated to Korean Air by the end of 2026.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

Corporate affairs

The airline has its global headquarters in Seoul at the Asiana Town (Template:Lang) in Osoe-dong, Gangseo District, Seoul.<ref name="Home"/> The airline's head office moved from Hoehyeon-dong, Jung District to Asiana Town in Osoe-dong on 1 April 1998.<ref>"History Template:Webarchive." Asiana Cargo. Retrieved on 19 July 2013.</ref>

Destinations

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Asiana Airlines serves destinations on five continents, with an Asian network that includes important cities in the People's Republic of China, Japan, Southeast Asia, and Central Asia. The airline serves several gateway cities in North America and Europe while retaining limited coverage of Oceania. Asiana Cargo, the airline's cargo subsidiary, also has a wide network, especially in Europe, Asia, and the United States.

Asiana decided to launch Air Seoul, the airline's second subsidiary and its low-cost carrier, based in Incheon International Airport, and transfer some of its unprofitable routes to the subsidiary in November 2016.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

Codeshare agreements

Asiana Airlines codeshares with these airlines:<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

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Interline agreements

Asiana Airlines has Interline agreements with the following airlines: Template:Div col

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Fleet

Current fleet

Template:As of, Asiana Airlines operates the following aircraft:<ref>Template:Cite web</ref><ref>Template:Cite web</ref> These aircraft will be part of the Korean Air fleet after the merger between the two airlines is completed.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>Template:Better source needed

Asiana Airlines fleet
Aircraft In service Orders Passengers Notes
C+ C W Y Total
Airbus A321-200 11 — — 12 — 162 174
Airbus A321neo 13 12<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> — 12 — 168 180
8 180 188
Airbus A330-300 14 — — 30 — 260 290
268 298
Airbus A350-900 15 15<ref name=a350orders/> — 28 36 247 311 Deliveries from 2025.<ref name=a350orders>Template:Cite web</ref>
Airbus A380-800 6 — 12 66 — 417 495 To be phased out before 2030.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref>
Boeing 777-200ER 9 — — 22 — 278 300
24 277 301
278 302
Total 68 27

Retired fleet

Asiana Airlines has previously operated the following aircraft:<ref>Template:Cite web</ref><ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

Asiana Airlines retired fleet
Aircraft Total Introduced Retired Replacement Notes
Airbus A320-200 7 2005 2024 Airbus A321neo
3 2006 2014 Transferred to subsidiary Air Busan.
1 2007 2015 None Crashed as flight OZ162
Airbus A321-100 4 1998 2021 Airbus A321neo
Airbus A321-200 4 2000 2020
12 2017 Transferred to subsidiary Air Busan
6 2018 Transferred to subsidiary Air Seoul
Airbus A330-300 1 2004 2025 None
Boeing 737-400 22 1988 2013 Airbus A320 family
4 Transferred to subsidiary Air Busan
Boeing 737-500 3 1992 2008
3 Transferred to subsidiary Air Busan
1 1993 None Crashed as flight OZ733
Boeing 747-400 3 1993 2024 Airbus A350-900
Airbus A380-800 		<ref>Template:Cite web</ref><ref name="fleetRenewal">Template:Cite news</ref>
Boeing 747-400BDSF 2 2007 2022 None
5 2025 Transferred to Air Incheon
Boeing 747-400F 2 1996 2009 None
1 2006 2011 Crashed as flight OZ991
6 1996 2025 Transferred to Air Incheon
Boeing 747-400M 6 1991 2017 Airbus A350-900
Airbus A380-800 		Converted into freighters and transferred to Asiana Cargo
Boeing 767-300 9 1990 2025 Airbus A330-300
Boeing 767-300ER 9 1991 2006 Airbus A330-300
Boeing 767-300F 1 1996 2025 None Transferred to Air Incheon
Boeing 777-200ER 3 2001 2017 Airbus A350-900
1 2006 2013 None Crashed as flight OZ214

Services

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Cabins

Economy class cabin on an Airbus A380-800 upper deck
The Asiana Lounge Central at Incheon International Airport

Asiana Airlines offers five classes of service – First Suite Class, First Class, Business Smartium Class, Business Class, and Travel (economy) Class. Seat configurations and in-flight entertainment systems vary by the type of aircraft and its operating routes.<ref>Template:Cite web. Flyasiana.com. Retrieved on 12 July 2013.</ref>

First Suite class is offered on A380-800, which is serviced on routes to Los Angeles, New York City, Sydney, and Frankfurt.<ref>Template:Cite web. Flyasiana.com. Retrieved on 12 July 2013.</ref> Old First Class is available on Boeing 747-400s. Both First Suite and old First Class were available on Boeing 777s but were later removed in favor of a two-class configuration. Passengers in these classes are offered pyjamas, souvenirs, and "amenity kits" containing items such as skin creams, toothpaste, eye shades, and earplugs. A passenger can pre-order in-flight meals 48 hours before departure. First-class seats are equipped with personal AVOD systems.

Besides those routes, most of Asiana's international flights offer two types of classes – business smartium class or business class as the highest class and travel class, without first class. Some of the short-length international flights and charter flights are operated on a mono-class basis, as well as all of the airline's domestic flights. Business Smartium Class is installed on Boeing 777-200ER, and Business Class is installed on Boeing 767 and A330, but some of the A330 are equipped with newly furbished cocoon seats. Most of Asiana's Travel class seats also have television or video systems. AVODs are installed on many of the aircraft and business class is fully equipped with new AVODs. In-flight entertainment systems are not offered on domestic routes, which consist of flights of an hour or less.

In-flight magazines

Asiana offers two in-flight magazines, Asiana (a travel magazine) and Asiana Entertainment.

Frequent-flyer program

Asiana Club is Asiana Airlines' frequent-flyer program, formerly Asiana Bonus Club. Asiana Club has five tiers: Silver, Gold, Diamond, Diamond Plus, and Platinum.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> To acquire or maintain each tier, members are required to accrue 0, 20000, 40000, 100000 miles in two calendar years from the 'reference date'. Status miles are based on 'On-board mileage', which includes miles accumulated by travelling with Asiana Airlines or Star Alliance airlines. Also, members can accrue miles by flying partner airlines such as Qatar Airways. As Asiana is a Star Alliance member, customers reaching certain qualifications are entitled to certain benefits which may be used across the entirety of the Star Alliance network.

Partnerships

Asiana Club Miles can be collected on all flights operated by Star Alliance member airlines, as well as Air Astana, Etihad Airways and Qatar Airways.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

Marketing

Asiana has endorsement deals with the following:

Accidents and incidents

See also

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References

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