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Korean Air aims sky high with security after Asiana merger, from data to cabin crew readiness

Published: 27 Feb. 2026, 09:19

Yoo Jong-seok, vice president of the safety department and operations sector of Korean Air, gives a speech at a ceremony marking the completion of the airline’s second Engine Test Cell facility in Jung District, Incheon, in December 2025. [KOREAN AIR]

As Korean Air completes its merger with Asiana Airlines, the flag carrier is focusing on enhancing its safety systems to boost consumer confidence with its “complete safety” approach.

The airline has expanded its maintenance facility and integrated training for both companies’ flight attendants, and plans to strengthen its security policy to protect customer data. In January, Korean Air moved its “flight safety strategy team” to the vice president’s purview in a bid to raise the airline’s safety maintenance to the highest global level.

The focus on maintenance has been spurred on by the addition of Asiana’s aircraft, with the construction of a large hangar underway near Incheon International Airport along with the establishment of an Engine Test Cell (ETC) facility to verify the quality of engine repairs.

The 69,299-square-meter (745,928-square-foot) hangar will be built by the runway at Terminal 2 with an investment of 1.76 billion won ($1.2 million) with a target completion date of 2027. The facility will be able to store up to two medium-large-sized planes and one small aircraft.

With the ETC and the Korean Air Engine Maintenance Cluster, engine repair can be completed at a single venue, a move designed to accommodate the growing fleet and adoption of next-generation engines.

From the first half of this year, Korean Air and Asiana Airlines cabin crew will undergo the same training. The airlines have utilized a uniform system with online education and a custom-made Full Flight Simulator program developed by the two airlines.

Korean Air is moving proactively to ensure customer safety, with a restriction on the in-flight use of portable batteries taking effect on Jan. 26 after a recent fire incident. The company is also maintaining a zero-tolerance policy toward behavior that jeopardizes safety, particularly concerning emergency exit doors, with bans handed down to customers who violate the Aviation Security Act, as was the case with a 2023 Asiana flight, when a passenger opened the door.

Korean Air is also enhancing security to prevent a customer data breach and utilize AI responsibly. With usage rising internally, the airline issued a policy in January on AI application, including a strict ban on uploading confidential documents or personal information. Efforts to maintain digital security include the “minimum access principle.”

Korean Air’s cybersecurity center leads efforts on the frontline, detecting cyberattacks and system weaknesses while monitoring any leakage of information.

Various certifications have proved the company’s security credentials, with the airline named a leader in security investments for four consecutive years this year. Last year, Korean Air promoted president of the personal information security committee was promoted to a vice chairman role.

The airline’s commitment to security extends to its employees, with 82.5 percent of respondents to an internal survey agreeing that “the company strictly follows security protocols at work.”

Korean Air will lead constant efforts in every domain to secure safety. “Safety is something we cannot compromise, the essence of our company’s value, the root of any business we do, and the foundation of the customer credibility,” said Cho Won-tae, the chairman of Korean Air.

BY LEE DAHYUN [[email protected]]

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