Asiana Airlines to Exit Star Alliance

The Alliance will continue to provide seamless global connectivity through 14 member airlines in Seoul.

Asiana Airlines, headquartered in Seoul, will formally leave Star Alliance on December 16, 2026, 23:59 Korea Standard Time.

 

Korean Air to merge with Asiana Airlines in late 4Q26

Korean Air (KE, Seoul Incheon) and Asiana Airlines (OZ, Seoul Incheon) will integrate on December 17, 2026, after the respective boards approved the merger agreement on May 13. The two carriers signed a contract to execute the merger the day after.

Korean Air will absorb all assets, liabilities, and employees of Asiana Airlines. The carrier submitted a merger application to South Korea's Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport on May 14. In June 2026, it also plans to apply for amendments to its Operations Specifications (OpSpecs) to incorporate Asiana Airlines' aircraft and safety systems under Korean Air's existing air operator's certificate.

The merger ratio was set at one Korean Air share for every 0.2736432 Asiana Airlines shares, resulting in an expected capital increase of KRW101.7 billion won (USD68.3 million) for Korean Air.

Asiana Airlines will hold an extraordinary shareholders' meeting in August 2026 to vote on the merger. Korean Air, meanwhile, will approve the transaction through a board resolution as the deal qualifies as a small-scale merger under South Korea's Commercial Act.

The two airlines are also consulting the Korea Fair Trade Commission to finalise the integration plan for their frequent-flyer programmes.

The consolidation follows an initial acquisition agreement signed in November 2020, when the South Korean government and creditors injected KRW3.6 trillion (USD2.4 billion) to stabilise Asiana Airlines during the COVID-19 pandemic. Korean Air said it has since repaid the public financial support.

As previously reported by ch-aviation, Korean Air plans to complete the acquisition of the remaining 36.1% stake in Asiana Airlines in the second quarter of 2026 and gradually phase out the Asiana Airlines brand and corporate entity after the integration. The airline has been working to align operational standards, employee compensation, and safety systems ahead of the merger.

Korean Air is also upgrading its operational infrastructure ahead of the integration, including renovations to its operations control centre and cabin crew training facility in Seoul, as well as expansions to engine maintenance shops and hangars at Seoul Incheon.

"The integration will elevate Korean Air's global market presence and establish Incheon International Airport as a dominant global hub through optimised network connectivity and increased transit efficiency," the carrier said.

Ch-Aviation / Photos: Duncan Stewart

ROUTES - ASIANA AIRLINES AUG – OCT A380 ASIA OPERATION CHANGES – 14AUG25

Asiana Airlines this week further revised Airbus A380 service on intra-Asia routes, for the month of September and October 2025. As of 13AUG25, planned operation as follows.

Seoul Incheon – Bangkok Suvarnabhumi A380 service resumes on 14SEP25 instead of 01OCT25, operating as OZ741/742 on daily basis

Seoul Incheon – Taipei Taoyuan Planned A380 service resumption on OZ711/712 from 01OCT25 remains unchanged, however latest adjustment sees selected dates switched to other aircraft type: 10OCT25 – 13OCT25 (A330-300), 15OCT25 – 18OCT25 (777-200ER)

Seoul Incheon – Tokyo Narita Previously reported, A380 service on OZ102/101 resumes on 25AUG25

Photo: Flyingphotos

ROUTES - ASIANA AIRLINES JUNE 2025 NEW YORK A380 SERVICE CHANGES

Asiana Airlines in recent schedule update adjusted planned Airbus A380 operations on Seoul Incheon – New York JFK route, for the month of June 2025. Planned A380 service on this route remains unchanged from 30MAY25 to 30SEP25 (Seoul departure, including highlighted dates below), however the following periods will see A350-900 operating instead of A380 for the OZ224/223 service.

05JUN25 – 16JUN25 Day 146
21JUN25

OZ222 ICN0940 – 1055JFK 359 D
OZ224 ICN2105 – 2300JFK 388 D

OZ223 JFK0130 – 0610+1ICN 388 D
OZ221 JFK1255 – 1740+1ICN 359 D

Flyingphotos - LHR

ROUTES - ASIANA AIRLINES NW25 BARCELONA FREQUENCY CHANGES – 25MAR25

Photo: Duncan Stewart

Asiana Airlines this week filed initial changes to Seoul Incheon – Barcelona route for Northern winter 2025/26 season, where the airline will continue to operate 5 weekly flights, on/after 26OCT25, instead of initially filed 3 weekly.

A350-900 aircraft operates this route.

OZ511 ICN1115 – 1750BCN 359 x13

OZ512 BCN1935 – 1600+1ICN 359 x13

 

ROUTES - ASIANA AIRLINES NS25 EUROPE SERVICE REDUCTIONS

 Photo: Duncan Stewart - LAX

Asiana Airlines this week filed service reductions to Europe, as the airline reduces service to Frankfurt, Paris and Rome. Planned frequency changes as follow.

Seoul Incheon – Frankfurt eff 30APR25 Reduce from 7 to 4 weekly (5 from 01OCT25)


Seoul Incheon – Paris Charles de Gaulle eff 15MAY25 Reduce from 6 to 5 weekly

Seoul Incheon – Rome Fiumicino eff 25APR25 Reduce from 5 to 4 weekly

ROUTES - ASIANA AIRLINES NS25 A380 OPERATIONS – 17NOV24

 

Asiana Airlines last week filed Airbus A380 regional operations during Northern summer 2025 season, effective 30MAR25. Latest adjustment includes the following.

Seoul Incheon – Bangkok Suvarnabhumi 

30MAR25 – 30JUN25 388 Day x125 77L Day 125

01JUL25 – 25OCT25 388 Daily

Seoul Incheon – Taipei Taoyuan OZ711/712 A380 service extends to year-round, except selected periods in 3Q25

16JUL25 – 31JUL25 777-200ER

01AUG25 – 31AUG25 A330-300

01SEP25 – 30SEP25 777-200ER

Seoul Incheon – Tokyo Narita A380 operates OZ102/101 on daily basis

On long-haul routes, the A380 operates on following routes:

Seoul Incheon – Los Angeles 2 daily (1 daily from 06OCT25)

Seoul Incheon – Sydney eff 06OCT25 1 daily

Photo: Duncan Stewart

ROUTES - ASIANA AIRLINES EARLY-JAN 2025 LOS ANGELES AIRCRAFT CHANGES

Asiana Airlines in early-January 2025 schedules aircraft changes on Seoul Incheon – Los Angeles route. Between 05JAN25 and 10JAN25, except 07 and 08JAN25, the Star Alliance member will once again operate double daily A380 service. OZ204/203 will see the A380 operating instead of A350-900XWB aircraft.

OZ202 ICN1440 – 0840LAX 388 D
OZ204 ICN2040 – 1450LAX EQV D

OZ201 LAX1100 – 1730+1ICN 388 D
OZ203 LAX2300 – 0520+1ICN EQV D

Photo: Duncan Stewart

Asiana's last 'Queen of the Skies' Boeing 747 makes final flight

Asiana Airlines' B747 passenger aircraft receives a special water salute to commemorate its final flight at Taoyuan International Airport in Taipei, Taiwan, on Monday.

Korea bid farewell to its last Boeing 747-400 passenger aircraft, operated by Asiana Airlines, as it completed its final flight on Monday.
Departing from Taiwan's Taoyuan Airport at 1:20 p.m. and arriving at Incheon Airport at 4:35 p.m., the final flight was fully booked as aviation enthusiasts secured every seat well in advance.

 

Images: Flight Radar
The Boeing 747, nicknamed the "Queen of the Skies" and "Jumbo Jet," contributed to the popularization of long-haul travel since its introduction in 1970 due to its ability to accommodate more than 500 passengers over long distances.

Asiana Airlines introduced the aircraft in question on June 20, 1999, and over its service life, it accumulated 96,986 flight hours, covering 88 million kilometers (54.7 million miles) across 18,139 flights — roughly equivalent to circling the Earth 2,500 times. It also holds the record for the highest number of Code One missions transporting the Korean president for the airline.

As a symbolic farewell gesture, fire trucks at both departure and arrival airports performed a "water salute" to commemorate the retirement of the iconic aircraft.

"It's with great sadness that I bid farewell to the Boeing 747-400 passenger plane, the first plane that I ever rode," Captain Kim Jae-ho, the pilot of the final flight, said. "I extend my gratitude to all passengers who joined us on this final journey."

koreajoongangdaily

Korea's Asiana Airlines to resume A380 ops from late 1Q22

As travel demand slowly picks up, Asiana Airlines (OZ, Seoul Incheon) will join the ranks of airlines reactivating their A380-800s when it deploys the type on two routes out of Seoul Incheon starting on March 27, 2022.

The ch-aviation schedules module indicates the South Korean carrier plans to use the A380 to operate one of its two daily rotations to Los Angeles Int'l (the other one will continue to be served with A350-900s) and its daily rotation to Frankfurt Int'l (currently also served with an A350-900).

Asiana Airlines operates six A380-800s, which have remained grounded since the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic.Four are owned while the other two are leased from Minsheng Financial Leasing, the ch-aviation fleets ownership module indicates. The aircraft are 6.8 years old on average.

Walter Cho, the chief executive of Korean Air (KE, Seoul Incheon), which is in the process of absorbing its rival, previously said the merged carrier's A380s (including ten in Korean Air's fleet) would be retired within five years, i.e. by the end of 2026.

ch-avaition

Photo:Duncan Stewart - LAX

Korean Air, Asiana LCCs to be merged, HQ to be decided

Air Busan (BX, Busan), Air Seoul (RS, Seoul Incheon), and Jin Air (LJ, Jeju) will be integrated into a single low-cost carrier, the president of Korean Air (KE, Seoul Incheon), Kee Hong Woo, has said in an online press briefing on the flag carrier’s Asiana Airlines (OZ, Seoul Incheon) acquisition progress. But it is too early to tell where it will be based, he added.

His comments came despite earlier South Korean government assurances that an integrated LCC headquarters would likely be set up at a local airport and not necessarily in Seoul.

“We are still considering whether the integrated LCC will be a subsidiary of Korean Air or of [Korean Air parent] Hanjin KAL, as Jin Air currently is. We will decide on the timeline and direction after thoroughly reviewing the details, such as the required funds and restrictions under the Fair Trade Act,” Woo said in the written briefing presented on March 31.

In answer to the pre-arranged question, “Where will the integrated LCC headquarters be located? Some are saying that it will be located in Busan,” the president said: “Jin Air, Air Busan, and Air Seoul will be integrated into an LCC that can realise economies of scale. An airline’s operating base is very important. Air Busan is an airline with a strong network based out of Busan, and Jin Air and Air Seoul have good networks out of Seoul Incheon. The integrated LCC will enhance the northeast/southeast Asia network from Incheon and Busan.”

He stressed: “By consolidating these three airlines, it can become a top-level low-cost airline not only in Korea but also in Asia. It is still too early to disclose the location of the integrated LCC headquarters at this time.”

Korean Air expects, Woo said, that it will take two years after its KRW1.8 trillion won (USD1.6 billion) acquisition of a majority stake in Asiana Airlines closes before it can integrate the rival brands.

“Asiana Airlines will be incorporated as a subsidiary of Korean Air once the business combination reports have been approved. It will create a governance structure where Hanjin KAL owns Korean Air, which in turn controls Asiana Airlines. Korean Air plans to fully integrate with Asiana Airlines about two years after Korean Air completes the acquisition and Asiana Airlines becomes its subsidiary,” he explained.

“Since the aviation industry is a network-based business, the synergy of networks, aircraft, and human resources will be very limited if two airlines operate independently. Full integration is the best way to maximise the synergy of acquisition, and this will be the only way to retain and secure employment in the long term.”

Asiana and Korean Air will integrate their fleets, which in some cases have different engine types for the same aircraft model, Woo said, adding that it would be easier to phase out Asiana’s aircraft because many have leases expiring within five years. About 1,200 jobs between the airlines will overlap, he added, but the resulting entity will manage any job cuts through retirement and “natural reductions” rather than direct job cuts.

ch aviation

ASIANA AIRLINES - B777-200ER - HL8254

Duncan Stewart  -LAX

Asiana Airlines adds Seoul – Lisbon scheduled charters in W19

Asiana Airlines at the launch of winter 2019/20 season is introducing new nonstop service to Portugal, with the offering of Seoul Incheon – Lisbon route. Operated by Airbus A350-900XWB from 28OCT19, this scheduled charter service will be served twice weekly.

OZ5175 ICN1430 – 1850LIS 359 13

OZ5185 LIS2030 – 1750+1ICN 359 13
This service is subject to Government Approval.

By Jim Liu

Photo:hsckcwong - LAX

Asiana Airlines schedules limited-time A380 Barcelona service in Feb 2019

Asiana Airlines in late-February 2019 filed Airbus A380 operation on Seoul Incheon – Barcelona route,
replacing Boeing 777-200ER service. The A380 is scheduled to operate this route on 24FEB19 and 28FEB19.
OZ511 ICN1445 – 1950BCN 388
OZ512 BCN2150 – 1800+1ICN 388
By Jim Liu

Asiana adds A350 London service from late-Oct 2017

Asiana Airlines today (06SEP17) made additional changes to its winter 2017/18 schedule, effective from 29OCT17. Additional adjustment sees the launch of A350-900XWB aircraft on Seoul Incheon – London Heathrow route, gradually replacing 777-200ER.
Operational days for A350-900XWB as follow:
29OCT17 – 06FEB18 Day 357
eff 07FEB18 Daily

OZ521 ICN1430 – 1750LHR EQV D
OZ522 LHR2010 – 1605+1ICN EQV D

By Jim Liu

Photo:Alain Charpentier  -TLS

Asiana plans A380 Barcelona charter in Sep/Oct 2017

Asiana Airlines in September and October 2017 plans to operate charter flights to Spain, which sees the airline’s A380 operating Seoul Incheon – Barcelona route. Service is scheduled on 30SEP17 and 07OCT17. Reservation is not open to individual travellers.
OZ5015 ICN0710 – 1330BCN 388 30SEP17/07OCT17
OZ5025 BCN1530 – 0955+1ICN 388 30SEP17/07OCT17

By Jim Liu - Routes Online

Photo:FPP

Asiana W17 Rome service changes

Asiana Airlines in winter 2017/18 season plans to maintain planned frequency increase on Seoul Incheon – Rome service, on board Boeing 777-200ER aircraft. The Star Alliance member will operate this route 5 times a week, on/after 29OCT17, instead of 3 times a week.

OZ561 ICN1250 – 1815FCO 77L x15
OZ562 FCO1955 – 1520+1ICN 77L x15

Jim Liu - Airline Routes

Asiana Airlines takes delivery of its first A350 XWB

24th April 2017, Toulouse - Asiana Airlines of South Korea has taken delivery of its first A350-900, becoming the 12th airline to operate the world’s newest and most efficient twin engine widebody airliner.
Asiana’s A350-900 is configured with a three class layout with a total of 311 seats, comprising 28 in Business Smartium, convertible to fully flat beds, 36 in Economy Smartium and 247 in the main cabin.
Altogether Asiana has ordered 30 A350s and will initially operate the aircraft on flights within Asia. From the third quarter of 2017, the carrier will deploy the aircraft on premier long haul routes to Europe and the US, beginning with services from Seoul to London and San Francisco.




The A350 XWB features the latest aerodynamic design, carbon fiber fuselage and wings, plus new fuel-efficient Rolls-Royce engines. Together, these latest technologies translate into unrivalled levels of operational efficiency, with a 25 per cent reduction in fuel burn and emissions, and significantly lower maintenance costs. The spaciousness, quietness, beautiful interior and mood lighting in the cabin contribute to superior levels of comfort and well-being, setting new standards in terms of flight experience for all passengers.






To date, Airbus has recorded a total of 821 firm orders for the A350 XWB from 44 customers worldwide, already making it one of the most successful widebody aircraft ever.

ASIANA - A350-900 - F-WZNY

Alain Charpentier - TLS

Asiana revises A350 operations in S17

Asiana Airlines last week adjusted planned Airbus A350-900XWB operation, which sees changes to planned inaugural date and route. The airline previously scheduled 15MAY17 inaugural on Seoul Incheon – Osaka Kansai route, however this is now revised to 09MAY17, Seoul Incheon – Hong Kong.
Revised A350-900XWB operation as follow.

Seoul Incheon – Beijing 28JUL17 – 13AUG17 OZ331/332
Seoul Incheon – Hanoi eff 14AUG17 OZ733/734 Day x346
Seoul Incheon – Hong Kong 09MAY17 – 14JUN17 OZ721/722 1 daily
Seoul Incheon – Manila eff 10MAY17 OZ703/704 Day x2 from ICN/ Day x3 from MNL (EXCEPT 14AUG17 – 28SEP17; previously scheduled from 15MAY17)
Seoul Incheon – Osaka Kansai eff 15JUN17 OZ112/111, OZ114/113 (EXCEPT 14AUG17 – 28SEP17; previously scheduled from 15MAY17)

Seoul Incheon – San Francisco eff 14AUG17 1 daily
Seoul Incheon – Shanghai Pu Dong eff 14AUG17 OZ361/362
Seoul Incheon – Singapore 28JUL17 – 13AUG17 OZ751/752 Day x24

Jim Liu Data & Analysis Manager - Airlineroute, Routesonline