ANA users are baffled… It will become common practice to fly to the U.S. via Seoul! What Will Happen with the Birth of the Giant Airline “Korean Air

New Korean Air” to Surpass ANA and JAL’s Transport Capabilities

Korean Air and Asiana Airlines, the two major airlines in South Korea, will merge as early as the end of 2014 to form a new Korean Air. Asiana Airlines, the second largest airline, will be absorbed by Korean Air, the number one airline in terms of passengers, and Asiana Airlines will cease to exist. The combined transport capacity of the two airlines will surpass that of Japan’s ANA and JAL.

On the other hand, international passengers in Japan will also be affected to no small extent by this merger. In particular, the loss of Asiana Airlines, a long-time partner of ANA, will mean the loss of codeshare flights and award tickets, as well as the loss of preferential treatment as a “Star Alliance Gold” member. In addition, South Korea is expected to take a further lead in functioning as a hub from Asia to North America.

Korean Air and Asiana have many routes to Japan and have long had a competitive relationship.

Korean Air is the largest airline in South Korea (flagship carrier, FSC) and has a wide network of flights throughout the world, including Japan, Asia, Europe, the United States, and Africa. It is a member of the SkyTeam airline alliance.

Asiana Airlines, established in 1988, is the second largest FSC in South Korea after Korean Air, and operates both international and domestic flights, including many routes to Japan. Asiana Airlines is a member of the Star Alliance, the same airline alliance as ANA.

As of March 2013, Korean Air and Asiana Airlines are ranked 32nd and 50th, respectively, in ASK, which indicates airline transport capacity, by Cirium, a British airline information company, and together they are ranked 18th. Incidentally, ANA and JAL are ranked 21st and 33rd, respectively.

In South Korea, competition has intensified with the establishment of low-cost carriers (LCCs) one after another since around 2010. Asiana Airlines sold its headquarters building, but its debt was so large that its parent company, Geumho Asiana Group, announced the sale in 2007. In November ’20, after the official announcement of the business merger with Korean Air, Korean Air acquired 63.88% of Asiana Airlines’ shares last December, making it a subsidiary.

ANA users voice their grief that they cannot use their miles and cannot use the lounges.

The major airlines are members of the three major airline alliances in the world: Star Alliance, SkyTeam, and oneworld.

For example, if you are an ANA frequent flyer and fly Asiana Airlines, you can earn ANA miles if the fare is eligible for mileage credit. It was also possible to use ANA miles to obtain award tickets on Asiana Airlines, for example.

In addition, if you held an ANA Super Flyers Card (SFC) or Platinum or higher, you were granted Star Alliance Gold, the highest level in the Star Alliance, and received a variety of preferential treatment. For example, priority in boarding procedures and baggage claim, access to airline lounges, etc. This was also applicable to economy class and award tickets, which were not eligible for mileage accrual.

When Asiana Airlines is merged into Korean Air, it will be integrated into SkyTeam, of which Korean Air is a member, and will no longer be a member of Star Alliance. No Japanese airline is a member of SkyTeam.

JAL has a long-standing alliance with Korean Air, which includes code-share flights, mileage credit, and award ticket redemption. However, the conditions for earning miles are rather strict, such as purchasing Korean Air flights with a JAL flight number on JAL and only on Japan-Korea routes, and the points for the FLY ON program, which is an annual boarding record, cannot be earned. Furthermore, trying to buy Korean Air flights on JAL’s website is usually quite expensive.

ANA and JAL currently only fly to/from Tokyo on Japan-Korea routes. Otherwise, Korean Air or LCCs are the only options.