Korean Air CEO's New Year Address to Employees

Dark/Light Mode (05/01/23)  In his new year’s address to Korean Air employees, Walter Cho, the airline’s Chairman and CEO, emphasized the importance of gaining a competitive edge as the aviation industry continues to gain momentum post-COVID19.

Walter Cho, Korean Air Chairman and CEO. Picture by Steven Howard of TravelNewsAsia.com

“We’ve seen a glimpse of normalization and the airports are beginning to bustle with passengers we have missed dearly. We also found hope and pleasure in returning to work to see our colleagues,” said Cho. “We need to identify in advance our customers’ preferred destinations and services, and analyze when and where to add operations as well as which services to enhance.”

Amidst growing economic uncertainties, Cho assured that the airline is confident and ready to move forward, and confirmed the company’s plans to complete the acquisition of Asiana Airlines in 2023.

“There have been numerous challenges on our way, but we’ve always overcome and leveraged them to create new opportunities. We’re armed with more than half a century of experience and will use this insight to address our future... 2023 is a pivotal year for completing the huge task of closing our acquisition of Asiana Airlines. We are in the last stage with the remaining overseas competition authorities reviewing the merger.”

He thanked the Korean Air team for their patience and asked them to do their part going forward as one family. He also emphasized Korean Air’s environment, social and governance (ESG) duties as a responsible member of society.

“ESG management is no longer a choice, but mandatory to the survival of our future,” he said. “We’ve always been committed to the well-being of our society. Introducing eco-friendly aircraft, reducing waste through increased in-cabin recycling, and operating an ESG committee to improve governance are all part of our efforts to support our social responsibility. We will not stop here, but continue to make Korean Air a responsible company that fulfills its corporate responsibilities and is beloved by its customers... While the future demands more wisdom from us than ever, we will continue on our path as we always have. We are the country’s top aviation experts and know how to give our customers around the globe the ultimate travel experience.”

Serving the world for more than 50 years, Korean Air, a founding member of the SkyTeam airline alliance, carried more than 27 million passengers in 2019. The airline serves 120 cities in 43 countries on five continents with a fleet of 155 aircraft and over 20,000 employees.

Latest exclusive video interviews: Future of Air Travel - Interview with Sumesh Patel, President of SITA Asia Pacific; Miss International Queen 2024 (MIQ 2024) - Interview with Alisa Phanthusak, MD, Tiffany's Show Pattaya, Thailand; 16 HD Video Interviews from Routes Europe 2024 in Aarhus, Denmark; 9 HD Video Interviews from Routes Asia 2024 in Langkawi, Malaysia; Standard to Open Residences in Hua Hin and Phuket, Thailand; Video Interview with Amar Lalvani, Executive Chairman; 9 Exclusive Video Interviews from ASEAN Tourism Forum 2024 in Vientiane, Laos; 8 NTO Press Conferences from ASEAN Tourism Forum 2024 in Vientiane, Laos; 13 HD Video Interviews from World Travel Market 2023 in London, England; 5 HD Video Interviews from APG World Connect 2023 in Monaco, France; and 15 HD Video Interviews from Routes World 2023 in Istanbul, Türkiye.