Striving for Excellence in Flight
Striving for Excellence in Flight
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  • 승인 2005.11.01 12:01
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Korean Air set to become a leading carrier in the global airline industry With the introduction of our new aircraft, Korean Air will be able to aggressively compete with other leading global carriers and we will be the airline that is able to win customers with our strong brand recognition," said Cho Yang-Ho, chairman and CEO of Korean Air (www.koreanair.com) on the occasion of the APEC 2005 CEO Summit.
He also added that Korean Air is making every effort to differentiate its services in order to become one of the top 10 leading carriers in the global airline industry. Korean Air is participating in the 2005 APEC as a platinum sponsor, while serving as an official airline for the APEC CEO Summit. It is striving to provide practical support to this significant global event. At the same time, through the APEC meeting it is showcasing its new image as a global carrier, after recently re-equipping crewmembers with new uniforms, new CI (Corporate Identity), and state-of-the-art aircraft including Airbus 380. Its recent reform efforts are most impressive. Some time ago, Korean Air introduced its first fully equipped aircraft with Audio Video on Demand (AVOD) for all three classes of service, in-flight Internet options, comfortable new seats, and new interior environment. Korean Air plans to fully equip its aircraft to be used on all mid to long haul routes. Passengers have pointed out that in-flight entertainment and convenient services such as Internet availability are a top priority and Korean Air has responded by investing in services that appeal to passengers. Top Quality In-flight Services Korean Air has made huge investments in reshaping itself in the cabin to enhance convenience and comfort for passengers. In the new aircraft, it will incorporate cocoon-style sleeper seats in its first and business class cabin. The seats, custom made for Korean Air, will be introduced to the B747-400 in stages and added to the long-haul U.S. and European routes. As aforementioned, Audio Video on Demand entertainment systems will be added to all cabins in the aircraft. Passengers also will have access to high-speed Internet connections. New Corporate Identity Korean Air recently announced its new mission, "excellence in flight." As an airline that operates in an intensely competitive industry, the carrier's new corporate image incorporates the themes of the "spirit of the new Korea" and "at home" to reflect a more comfortable inflight environment. The new corporate image changes are a result of major consultations with Gianfranco Ferre, the renowned Italian fashion designer, and Landor, a global brand development company. As a result, it decided to change all of its employee uniforms, introduce new aircraft interiors, and implement new in-flight entertainment systems. Aircraft Modernization At present, Korean Air has a total of 1,145 aircraft in its fleet. The company is pursuing its aircraft modernization as it adds new aircraft to the fleet. This year, five aircraft - including B777-200 and B737-900 - will be added. Eventually the fleet will consist of B747-400 and A380 for long-haul flights, B777, B787, and A330 for mid-range flights, and B737NGs for short-haul flights. World's Largest Commercial Airline Cargo Operation Last July, the International Air Transport Association (IATA ranked Korean Air's cargo operation the world's largest commercial air cargo operation. This is the first time the Korean flag carrier has achieved the world's number one position in terms of international scheduled freight tonne-kilometres. During 2004, Korean Air recorded 8.164 billion FTK (freight tonne-kilometers) ahead of the long-time No. 1 carrier Lufthansa. It has been ranked among the top three freight carriers since 1993. Ahead of this, Korean Air attracted public attention by displaying a doubledeck replica of the interior of an Airbus A380 at the Seoul Air Show that was held on October 18-23. It replicated the interior of a middle part of the aircraft's main body that measures 6 meters in height and 7 meters in width. The first floor of the aircraft interior is all economy class while the upper deck is all business class. The 11.3-meter long interior also displayed convenient and high-tech facilities such as a mini-bar and a computer work area for cabin crew. The spacious interior offers various amenities such as fitness and shower facilities and a duty-free shop. The 555-seat A380s are highly efficient airplanes designed to meet the needs of future generations as they weigh about 10 percent less than any other similar aircraft in service today. Developed by Europe's Airbus Industrie for its planned commercial service in 2006, the A380 is the world's largest passenger airplane that can carry as many as 800 passengers. Better known as 'Super Jumbos', these airplanes use carbon-fiber reinforced plastic, a composite material that is lighter than any other traditional aircraft materials, thus enabling them to be more cost efficient by reducing the cost per seat by approximately 15 percent. Currently, A380 orders have reached over 150, including firm orders from such airlines as Singapore Airlines and Air France, in addition to Korean Air. In October 2003, Korean Air signed a contract to order five A380s for their commercial service to be launched from early 2008 to 2010. And, in June this year, Korean Air signed a contract with Engine Alliance of the United States to power its four-engine A380 aircraft. The deal is for 23 engines of GP7200 and is valued at approximately US$300 million. Korean Air said that it plans to focus on providing the most intimate and personal service to its first and prestige class passengers while economy class customers can enjoy a whole new level of comfort with more space and convenient facilities, just like home. Korean Air plans to add A380s to its fleet as one of the flagship carriers serving long-haul routes, together with 10 Boeing's B787s, or 'Dreamliners', that are scheduled to join the fleet from 2009 to 2011. These airline types, the Super Jumbos and Dreamliners, would be at the center of fulfilling the visions of leading airlines of the world, Korean Air proudly predicted.

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