by Elsie Clark | Mar 2, 2026 | Innovation
Korean Air and Skyports have announced a new partnership for developing eVTOL operations. Announced at the Drone Show Korea, the collaboration builds on the expertise of both partners to build scalable solutions for advanced air mobility (AAM) integration.
Under the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU), the Air Control & Routing Orchestrated Skyway System (ACROSS), Korean Air’s proprietary flight ops and air traffic management system, will be linked to Skyports’ Vertiport Automation System (VAS) for vertiport infrastructure control. Together, these two platforms can provide infrastructure for commercial eVTOL development, including check-in, security, boarding, and arrivals.
A Korean Air representative comments:
ACROSS delivers integrated flight control and air traffic management for the low-altitude aviation environment. As vertiports serve as the essential interface for these operations, our partnership with Skyports, a global leader in infrastructure, is a critical milestone in building a safe and efficient AAM ecosystem.
Joint demonstrations and piloting programmes will help the partnership strengthen development of AAM as a public transportation arm. The ACROSS system has already been validated by the Korean Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport (MOLIT) through Phases 1 and 2 of the K-UAM Grand Challenge.
Skyports have emerged as the industry leaders in vertiports. Sites in Dubai are expected to host commercial operations later this year, while the company is also developing infrastructure in South Korea’s Jeju Island alongside Abu Dhabi and New York.
Ankit Dass, Chief Technology Officer, Skyports, commented:
Whilst eVTOL aircraft development is progressing at a good pace, there are still various unknowns around how they would operate and navigate effectively in the real world environment. This partnership with Korean Air reflects our shared vision to create the technologies and operational frameworks needed to bring Advanced Air Mobility to life.
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by Elsie Clark | Nov 24, 2025 | Innovation, Sustainability
Korean Air and Samsung E&A have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to develop a sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) supply chain in the US.
The airline and the engineering firm’s announcement forms part of their commitment to accelerate sustainable energy solutions in aviation. Samsung E&A will build on existing feedstock capacity and infrastructure in the US with its engineering expertise. Meanwhile, Korean Air has signed to become a SAF buyer, ensuring critical long-term demand. Other airlines including Delta and Air France have struck similar agreements to nurture the SAF industry as it takes flight.
Samsung E&A is considering participating in a SAF project that uses gasification–Fischer-Tropsch (FT) technology. This second-generation SAF fuels converts abundant woody waste into synthetic liquid fuel, a significant advance on first-generation processes that use limited supplies of waste cooking oil.
On the partnership with Samsung E&A, a spokesperson for Korean Air commented:
This partnership will further contribute to the aviation industry’s Net Zero 2050 goal and enhance our ability to effectively navigate evolving global environmental regulations, including SAF mandates. Through proactive project participation and continuous cooperation, we aim to accelerate global SAF adoption and advance our commitment to sustainable aviation and ESG management.
A report from IATA earlier this year found that SAF production is currently on track to fall 100 million tonnes short of net-zero emissions targets. The air transport association emphasise that investing in technology, not feedstock, was critical to ramping up sustainability efforts. If successful, Korean Air and Samsung’s new partnership will contribute directly to addressing this issue.
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by Elsie Clark | Oct 24, 2025 | Innovation
Korean Air and advanced air mobility (AAM) firm Archer have signed a deal to commercialise Archer’s Midnight eVTOL in South Korea.
Beginning with government applications, the agreement could see Korean Air purchase up too 100 Archer aircraft. South Korea’s expertise in MRO and Archer’s next-generation solution will together build the ideal foundations for commercial AAM adoption.
Adam Goldstein, founder and CEO of Archer, said:
Korean Air’s expertise in aerospace and their comprehensive strategic vision for the future make them the ideal partner for Archer. We are excited to introduce Midnight alongside them in one of the world’s largest aerospace markets.
Korean Air’s Aerospace Division is one of APAC’s leading R&D and manufacturing arms. Actively engaged in research for stealth tech, unmanned aircraft systems, and urban air mobility, the division also supports the US Department for Defense in Asia.
Archer have been ramping up testing in the US as it seeks FAA certification. At recent demonstrations, the Midnight eVTOL has flown at 10,000 feet and conducted journeys of 55 miles in just over 30 minutes.
The company’s partnership with Korean Air brings its futuristic vision to introduce clean, quiet air taxis in urban areas across the globe one step closer.
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by Elsie Clark | Sep 18, 2025 | AI & ML, Flight Ops IT, Innovation
Korean Air and Boeing will partner on predictive analytics for proactive fleet maintenance, they announced at the MRO Asia-Pacific 2025 conference in Singapore.
The South Korean national carrier has established an early lead in predictive maintenance, setting up a dedicated team in 2023 that has since developed an in-house MRO solution. The partnership with Boeing will focus on advancing data-driven maintenance from this foundation to optimise fleet availability.
Chan Woo Jung, Senior Vice President and Head of Maintenance and Engineering at Korean Air, said:
We have made substantial progress in enhancing fleet reliability through our Smart MRO strategy, specifically by leveraging predictive maintenance. This strategic collaboration with Boeing will build on that success, taking our capabilities to the next level.
As we continue to expand our fleet, this partnership is key to enhancing our maintenance operations.
The announcement comes after Korean Air signed the largest-ever single aircraft order in history in late August 2025. 103 new Boeing airliners of different types are set to replenish and expand the airline’s fleet as they merge with Asiana Airlines.
The new predictive maintenance partnership with Boeing will support the US$36 billion investment, ensuring that Korean Air get the most out of their new aircraft while minimising passenger disruption.
Boeing’s suite of intelligence tools includes the Insight Accelerator, a custom predictive maintenance solution that helps avoid flight delays and minimises aircraft time on ground (AOG). Powered by machine learning (ML) algorithms, it is the first tool of its kind to launch on the MRO market.
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