Korean Air unveiled a new logo for the first time in 41 years following its acquisition of Asiana Airlines and ahead of the official launch of the integrated airline in late 2026.

At the “Rising Night” event held at its headquarters in western Seoul on Tuesday, Korean Air introduced its updated corporate identity (CI) and aircraft livery. More than 1,000 employees, guests, and members of the press attended the unveiling.

“We will focus on the fundamental value of aviation, which is connecting people and the world through the skies,” Hanjin Group Chairman Cho Won-tae said in his welcome speech. “By blending our accumulated expertise and strengths, we aim to create a truly unique airline.”

Addressing the change from the long-standing red-and-blue Taegeuk logo, Cho explained that the redesign aligns with global design trends, reflecting a focus on minimalism and modernization.

Cho also shared the timeline for applying the new CI. “Our aircraft painting hangar is in Busan, and it takes about three weeks to repaint a large aircraft. Given that we have around 250 planes from both Korean Air and Asiana, the full transition will take at least three to four years,” he said.

The new logo retains the essence of the original Taegeuk mark but incorporates modern design elements for a more refined image. Unlike the previous logo, which featured multiple colors, the updated design exclusively uses Korean Air Dark Blue, reinforcing the airline‘s premium brand identity. This new CI will gradually be applied across various customer touchpoints, including aircraft exteriors, in-flight service items, and airport facilities.

The redesigned livery also made its debut, featuring the updated logo and a new metallic paint effect. The word “Air” has been removed from the fuselage, leaving “Korean” in bold lettering - a design approach also seen in major global airlines such as American Airlines and Swiss International Air Lines. The first aircraft featuring the new livery will fly on flight KE703 from Incheon to Tokyo Narita on Wednesday.

To further unify its brand, Korean Air has developed an exclusive corporate font and iconography. These elements will be incorporated across its website, airport signage, lounges, and in-flight materials.

In addition to the branding update, Korean Air unveiled an upgraded in-flight dining experience at the Grand Hyatt Incheon. The airline collaborated with Chef Kim Se-kyung, owner of the fine dining restaurant Cesta in Seoul, to create a new menu that features premium seasonal ingredients and diverse cooking techniques.

The updated menu includes modern Korean dishes that blend traditional ingredients and cooking methods. Signature dishes include octopus rice, beef brisket bibimbap, abalone rice, and sinseollo (a traditional Korean hot pot), reinforcing Korean Air’s identity as the national carrier.

The airline also revamped its tableware and in-flight amenities, selecting premium items in collaboration with high-end brands such as French porcelain maker Bernardaud. Amenity kits and pouches for premium-class passengers were designed in collaboration with British luxury brand Graff. In line with its environmental, social, and governance (ESG) initiatives, Korean Air has minimized plastic packaging and incorporated eco-friendly materials, such as sustainable toothbrush handles, into its offerings.

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