Korean Air - Number One Global Cargo Airline Six Years in a Row

SEOUL, Korea (June 10, 2010) – New statistics indicate Korean Air maintained and improved top traffic records in 2009.

According to the International Air Transport Association (IATA), Korean Air topped the global rankings for commercial airline cargo operations for the sixth consecutive year and ranked 13th for commercial airline international passenger operations in 2009.

During 2009, Korean Air recorded 8.225 billion FTKs (Freight-Ton-Kilometers), topping the chart, followed by Cathay Pacific (7.722 billion FTK) and Lufthansa (6.660 billion FTK). Korean Air attained the number one spot for the first time in 2004 and has consistently been one of the world’s top three freight carriers since 1993.

For passenger operations, Korean Air was ranked 13th in international scheduled passenger kilometers by recording 52.086 billion RPKs (Revenue Passenger-Kilometers) in 2009, from 17th (51.321 billion RPKs) in 2008.

The airline achieved the top cargp result for the last six years in a number of ways: New market development and service management are two of the key drivers. For example, eying high-potential growth in the Central Asia market, Korean Air has been developing the Navoi International Airport, positioning it as a logistics hub for Central Asia.

In order to enhance its global competency in passenger operations, Korean Air has continued to pursue change and innovation by expanding its global route network, securing increasing transit traffic through Incheon, and upgrading in-flight facilities. By 2014, Korean Air will have a fleet of more than 100 premium aircraft equipped with state-of-the-art seats to serve its mid and long-haul route.

About Korean Air

In 2009, Business Traveler magazine honored Korean Air for the fourth consecutive year as having the “Best Transpacific Business Class” and ranked it “The Best Airline in Asia” for three consecutive years; TTG Asia rated it as the Best North Asian Airline; the carrier was named the 2009 winner of the Global Travel Catering Distinction Award by Pax International magazine; World Traveler magazine rated it has having the world’s best inflight service; readers of Travel & Leisure magazine said it is one of the world’s top 10 international airlines, and readers of Conde Nast Traveler magazine voted it has having one of the world’s top five business classes.

Korean Air, with a fleet of 129 aircraft, is one of the world's top 20 airlines, and operates almost 400 passenger flights per day to 116 cities in 39 countries. It is a (founding) member of the global airline alliance SkyTeam. Together, the nine members and two associates offer its 384 million annual passengers a worldwide system of more than 13,133 daily flights covering 856 destinations in 169 countries. The alliance will celebrate its 10th anniversary in June 2010.

More on Korean Air's programs, routes, frequency and partners is available at www.koreanair.com