Korean Air completes acquisition of Asiana Airlines: merger of loyalty programs will come summer 2025
It has been more than four years-it was November 16, 2020-since Korean Air announced it would [...]
Korean Air
Asiana Airlines
Star Alliance
SkyTeam
More than four years have passed - it was November 16, 2020 - since Korean Air announced that it will acquire Asiana Airlines. Today, Dec. 12, 2024, after the green light from the Competition Authority of several countries (including the EU), the acquisition was officially completed.
In this article:
This was announced by the Korean flag carrier: with the purchase of more than 131 million shares in Asiana, Korean now owns the 63,88%. The integration, according to the Seoul-based carrier's plans, will be completed within two years, by 2026. The next steps will be to optimize the network and increase the number of connections and destinations.
Asiana will exit Star Alliance
What will change for frequent flyers? First, there will be the merger of loyalty programs: by June 2025, Korean points out, the new loyalty program will be unveiled, which suggests a revamp of the current Korean loyalty program as well.
Asiana, then, will exit Star Alliance and join SkyTeam. There will be major changes in the fleet as well. Korean, in recent years, has begun a process of modernizing its 'fleet,' so in the near future we will have to say goodbye to Asiana's 'old' A380s and also Korean's B747s.
There will be no layoffs
Integration will proceed without workforce restructuring. The combined organization provides for the natural growth of personnel through business expansion, with the reassignment of employees with overlapping functions within the organization.
The integration strategy includes network optimization through diversified flight schedules on overlapping routes, service expansion to new destinations, and increased investment in safety. The merger aims to strengthen the competitiveness of the domestic aviation industry, improve the capabilities of the Incheon Airport hub, and expand the reach of the global network.
T'way grows in Europe
Remedy taker t'way will grow in Europe as envisaged by the green light obtained from European antitrust, just on Rome and other destinations, an imposition quite similar to that imposed for the ITA/Lufthansa merger.
In conclusion
New departure for Star Alliance and especially bated breath for the future of the fleet, which will surely be redefined in the coming years. We will also see on the route issue, how the company's strategies will change.
