Shareholders approve Korean Air-Asiana Merger for December launch (though mileage integration and pilot seniority remain unresolved)

Asiana shareholders approved the merger with 99.3 pc support on 12 August 2026
Korean Air’s board also approved the deal on the same day
The merger becomes effective on 17 December 2026
Mileage programme integration requires Fair Trade Commission approval
Pilot seniority agreements remain unresolved between unions

Korean Air and Asiana Airlines have received final shareholder approval for their six-year merger, setting them up to become one airline on 17 December. At an extraordinary general meeting in Seoul, Asiana shareholders approved the merger agreement with 99.3 pc support, representing 81.86 pc of total voting rights and exceeding the legal threshold. Korean Air’s board also approved the deal on the same day, bringing South Korea’s flag carrier closer to acquiring its longtime domestic rival in a deal first proposed in 2020 as a government-backed rescue of financially troubled Asiana.

With shareholder and board approvals in place, the airlines must now complete creditor protection procedures before formally registering the merger on 17 December. South Korea’s transport ministry granted conditional approval in June, and the securities registration statement became effective in July. Two additional approvals are required before the combined carrier can operate under a single certificate: an integrated Air Operator Certificate and approval from overseas aviation authorities to ensure uninterrupted flight operations at launch. Korean Air has begun training Asiana’s passenger and cargo staff, and joint volunteer activities between employees of both airlines have increased in recent months.

After the merger, Korean Air will operate 230 aircraft, employ 28,000 people, and generate annual revenue of ₩23 trillion (US$16.3bn). According to 2019 IATA data, the combined airline would rank approximately 11th globally for international passenger traffic. The proposed merger of Asiana Club and Skypass mileage programmes still requires approval from South Korea’s Fair Trade Commission, which has twice rejected previous proposals. Unions representing Korean Air and Asiana pilots have not agreed on how seniority will be determined after the merger, an issue that has delayed airline mergers elsewhere.

Korean Air shared: “If approval is not granted before the merger date, both airlines will continue to operate separate mileage programmes.”