KOREAN AIR CELEBRATES 50TH ANNIVERSARY ⋆ ✯ Aviation News, Videos & More ✯

SEOUL – Korean Air celebrates its 50th anniversary this year. During a festive meeting in Seoul, Korean Air celebrated its 50 years of history and the spectacular growth of the South Korean airline, since it was founded on March 1, 1969. The airline also looks into the future with confidence, for the next 50 years to come.

**Korean Air 50th anniversary – Beyond 50 Years of Excellence. Photo:** **Korean Air**

Korean Air, officially Korean Air Lines, has roots dating back to 1946, but was privatized in 1969. Over the years, the network and fleet have expanded rapidly. Since 1969 almost 715 million passengers travelled with the airline, about 13 times the population of modern South Korea.

YouTube player — **Korean Air B787-9 departing Toronto Pearson International Airport.**
**Video:** **Canadian Plane Spotter** **on YouTube**

The fleet grew from one jet aircraft and seven propeller aircraft to 166 aircraft now. Its fleet has types such as the B787 Dreamliner, B747-8 and the Airbus A380 and A220.

Korean Air A220 — **One of the youngest planes in the Korean Air fleet, the Airbus A220. Image:** **Airbus**

**Korean Air A321neo. Image:** **Airbus**

In the coming years, the airline wants to grow further, including on the market segment between Asia and North America. Last year a joint venture partnership was realized with Delta Air Lines. Delta and Korean Air enhance codeshare flights in the U.S. and are expanding codeshare flights. The partnership will give customers world-class travel benefits across one of the most comprehensive route networks in the trans-Pacific market.

10 Korean Air planes will receive a special livery to celebrate its 50th anniversary this year. The aircraft will display a special emblem with the text “50 years” with a plane over it. The number “0” is designed in a taeduk style, resembling the iconic red and white circle of the South Korean flag.

The slogan “Beyond 50 Years of Excellence” highlights the contribution that Korean Air has made to the Korean aviation industry over the past 50 years, and also emphasizes its ambition to pursue excellence in the next 50 years. Korean Air’s employees participated in the design and selection process of logos and slogans.

The planes to display the livery are two Airbus A380-800s, two A220-300s, two Boeing 787-9 Dreamliners, two 777-300ERs and two 737-8 Maxs. The special slogans and emblems will remain on the 10 aircraft until the end of this year.