Korean Air

Q: What are Korean Air's airline codes?

Korean Air's IATA code is KE , its ICAO code is KAL , and its callsign is KOREANAIR .

KE KAL

Korean Air is the flag carrier of South Korea and a founding member of SkyTeam, with its international hub at Seoul Incheon International Airport. This guide covers its hubs, network, fleet, cabins, baggage, check-in, SKYPASS, the Asiana Airlines integration and airport transportation.

169
Aircraft: 108
Destinations: ICN
Hub: SkyTeam
Alliance

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The airline

About Korean Air

Schedules, aircraft assignments, terminals and fare rules can change. Confirm operational details directly with Korean Air before travel.

Official name: Korean Air Lines Co., Ltd.
Callsign: KOREANAIR
Country: South Korea
Founded: 1962 (as Korean Air Lines); part of the Hanjin Group since 1969; Korean Air name since 1984
Parent company: Hanjin KAL (Hanjin Group)
Head office: 260 Haneul-gil, Gangseo District, Seoul, South Korea
Alliance: SkyTeam (founding member, 2000)
Frequent-flyer program: SKYPASS
Official website: koreanair.com

Korean Air is the flag carrier of South Korea. It was founded in 1962 as the state-owned Korean Air Lines, was taken over by the Hanjin Group in 1969 and has used the Korean Air name since 1984. It is headquartered in Gangseo District, Seoul, its parent company is Hanjin KAL, and it is a founding member of the SkyTeam alliance. It runs a trans-Pacific joint venture with Delta Air Lines.

Its international hub is Seoul Incheon International Airport, where it uses Terminal 2, and Seoul Gimpo is its domestic hub; Busan and Jeju are focus cities. From Incheon it serves Japan, China, Southeast Asia, India, the Middle East, Europe, North America and Oceania. Korean Air has owned about 63.9% of Asiana Airlines since December 2024, and the two airlines plan to complete their integration on December 17, 2026, when Asiana becomes part of Korean Air.

The fleet of about 170 aircraft, including freighters, combines Airbus A380, A350, A330, A321neo and A220 jets with Boeing 747-8, 777, 787 and 737 aircraft.

Network

Where Korean Air flies

Routes and frequencies change with the season. Some flights sold with a KE flight number are operated by Asiana Airlines, Delta or other SkyTeam partners; check the "operated by" line when you book.

South Korea

Domestic flights link Seoul Gimpo, Busan and Jeju with Cheongju, Daegu, Gwangju, Ulsan, Yeosu and Sacheon.

Japan, China and North Asia

Tokyo Narita and Haneda, Osaka, Nagoya, Fukuoka, Sapporo and Okinawa; Beijing, Shanghai, Shenzhen, Shenyang and other cities in China; Hong Kong, Macau, Taipei and Ulaanbaatar.

Southeast Asia and India

Singapore, Bangkok, Phuket, Chiang Mai, Bali (Denpasar), Jakarta, Kuala Lumpur, Manila, Cebu, Hanoi, Ho Chi Minh City, Da Nang, Nha Trang, Phnom Penh and Delhi.

North America

Los Angeles, San Francisco, Seattle, Las Vegas, Chicago, Washington Dulles, New York JFK, Atlanta and Honolulu in the United States, plus Vancouver in Canada, with onward connections on Delta.

Europe and the Middle East

London Heathrow, Paris Charles de Gaulle, Frankfurt, Amsterdam, Madrid, Milan, Vienna, Prague, Budapest and Istanbul, plus Dubai.

Australia and New Zealand

Sydney, Brisbane and Auckland.

Aircraft

Korean Air fleet

Korean Air flies a mixed Airbus and Boeing fleet, plus a large cargo fleet. New Airbus A350s are joining the fleet, and Boeing 777-9 and Airbus A350-1000 aircraft are on order. The aircraft shown at booking is not guaranteed until departure.

Airbus A380 and Boeing 747-8I

Large four-engine aircraft used on high-demand routes such as Los Angeles and New York JFK.

Boeing 777-300ER and 777-300

Long-haul and high-demand regional routes, including London Heathrow, Chicago, Washington Dulles and Singapore. Some 777-300ERs have been refitted with the Premium cabin.

Boeing 787-9 and 787-10

Long-haul routes to Europe, North America and Oceania, and busy routes within Asia.

Airbus A350-900 and A330-300

The A350-900 is the newest widebody in the fleet; the A330-300 flies medium-haul routes in Asia.

Airbus A321neo, A220-300 and Boeing 737

Domestic routes and shorter flights to Japan, China and Southeast Asia, with the 737-800, 737-900, 737-900ER and 737 MAX 8.

On board

Korean Air cabin classes

Cabins depend on the aircraft and route. Check the seat map and fare conditions before you buy.

First Class

Offered on the Airbus A380, Boeing 747-8I and some Boeing 777-300ER aircraft on long-haul routes.

Prestige Class

Korean Air's business class. Seat type depends on the aircraft, from flat-bed seats to Prestige Suites, and Prestige Suites 2.0 with doors on refitted Boeing 777-300ERs.

Premium Class

A premium economy cabin introduced in 2025 on refitted Boeing 777-300ER aircraft, between Prestige and Economy.

Economy Class

The standard cabin on every aircraft. Fare type affects baggage, changes and seat selection.

Before you fly

Practical information

Baggage Cabin bags, checked bags, missing luggage

Korean Air baggage allowances depend on the route, the cabin, the fare and SKYPASS or SkyTeam status. Check your booking for the allowance that applies.

Carry-on

Carry-on allowances depend on the cabin: Economy passengers have a smaller allowance than Prestige and First Class passengers. A personal item, such as a handbag or laptop bag, is allowed in addition. Check the size and weight limits for your cabin on koreanair.com before you fly.

Checked baggage

Checked allowances vary by route, cabin, fare and status, and are shown in your booking. Routes to and from the Americas can have different rules from routes within Asia.

Special items

Sports equipment, pets, oversized items and medical equipment follow separate rules. Check the official Korean Air website before you fly.

Check-in and boarding Steps before departure

Online and mobile check-in opens 48 hours before departure (24 hours for flights to or from the United States and Canada) and closes 1 hour before international flights and 30 minutes before domestic flights. Follow the airport check-in and bag-drop deadlines shown in your booking.

1 Confirm
Confirm the operating airline, the Seoul airport (Incheon or Gimpo) and the terminal.
2 Documents
Review passport, visa and entry requirements for your destination.
3 Check in
Check in online or in the Korean Air app as soon as it opens.
4 Boarding pass
Download the mobile boarding pass or print it.
5 Arrive early
Allow time for bag drop, security and, on international flights, immigration.

Lounges

Korean Air operates its own lounges at Seoul Incheon Terminal 2 and other airports in its network. Access depends on cabin, SKYPASS or SkyTeam status and the itinerary. Check the location and opening hours before you travel.

Loyalty program

SKYPASS is the Korean Air loyalty program. Members earn miles on Korean Air, Delta and other SkyTeam flights and with partner businesses, and redeem them for flights, upgrades and other rewards. As part of the Asiana integration, Korean Air plans to let Asiana Club members transfer their miles to SKYPASS; the final terms are being set with Korean regulators. Program rules change, so check your account for the conditions that apply to your trip.

Flight status and customer service Official sources

For current operational information, use Korean Air's official services:

Korean Air website

koreanair.com for booking, check-in, trip management and flight status

Korean Air app

Available for iOS and Android, with mobile check-in, boarding passes and trip management

Where you land

Korean Air airports

Korean Air flies most international routes from Seoul Incheon and most domestic routes from Seoul Gimpo; these are two different airports. Check which Seoul airport and which terminal are on your booking before you arrange a transfer.

Incheon International Airport Hub

ICN · Seoul

The international hub. Korean Air uses Terminal 2, which it shares with other SkyTeam airlines. Since January 14, 2026, Asiana Airlines has also operated from Terminal 2, so Korean Air and Asiana flights at Incheon depart from the same terminal.