In a move intended to stabilize the Korean aviation industry that has been hard hit by the ongoing pandemic, Korean Air, the flag carrier of South Korea, is set to acquire Asiana Airlines with a 63.9 percent stake.
The airline, which is already Korea’s biggest carrier, will acquire Asiana Airlines in a deal valued at 1.8 trillion won ($1.6 billion). The deal, which will make Korean Air one of the largest carriers in the world, is likely to be completed in the second half of 2021 after the country’s antitrust regulator reviews the deal over the issue of monopoly.
Korean Air will, over time, integrate three low-cost carriers, it’s own Jin Air and Asiana’s Air Busan and Air Seoul, after the acquisition of Asiana is complete.
Korean Air’s decision to acquire Korea’s second largest carrier comes in the wake of Asiana’s continuing financial struggles and the losses that the aviation industry has had to bear due to the ongoing pandemic. With the acquisition, Korean Air will become the world’s tenth largest airline in terms of fleet size. The similarities in the type of aircraft the two carriers have in their fleet – both operate the Airbus A380, Boeing 747, Airbus A330 and Boeing 777 – will make the acquisition seamless from an operational point of view.
“The company made the decision to help the country’s airline industry continue to grow (amid uncertainties) and minimize the injection of public funds (into Asiana),” Korean Air Chairman Cho Won-tae said in a statement. The job security of employees in the two carriers would be ensured, he added.
The airline will raise 2.5 trillion won through rights offerings early next year and use 1.5 trillion won to buy new shares that will be sold by Asiana and 300 billion won worth of Asiana perpetual bonds.
Ever since it suffered a financial crunch in April last year, Asiana Airlines had been on the look out for potential buyers. The crisis forced Kumho Asiana Group, its parent company, to sell about 34% of the carrier’s shares to avert the liquidity crisis. A consortium led by HDC Hyundai Development Company had signed a deal to acquire Asiana, as well as its six affiliates, but the deal fell through in September.
The Indonesian Navy (Tentara Nasional Indonesia Angkatan Laut / TNI AL) recently launched two Pari-class patrol vessels. Constructed by PT…
A delegation from the Royal Malaysian Air Force (Tentera Udara Diraja Malaysia / TUDM) is reportedly set to engage in…
VARD, a subsidiary of the Fincantieri Group based in Norway, secured a contract to construct two Commissioning Service Operation Vessels…
Leonardo announced the finalization of an agreement to sell its Underwater Armaments Systems (UAS) division to Fincantieri on Thursday. “The…
General Atomics Aeronautical Systems, Inc. (GA-ASI) is partnering with Shift5 to integrate the company’s onboard cyber anomaly detection and predictive…
The Malaysian Ministry of Defence (Mindef) has finalised 40 agreements totalling RM7.3 billion, encompassing seven contracts valued at RM1.90 billion,…
Leonardo, an Italian aerospace company, and the Ministry of Defense of Malaysia (Mindef) have marked a significant milestone during the…
Turkish land systems manufacturer Otokar is displaying its Cobra II and Akrep II armoured vehicles at DSA. The Cobra II…
Systems Engineering & Assessment (SEA), a technology company based in the UK, proudly displays its advanced decoy launcher Ancilia, at…
The Czech Republic’s Excalibur Army has its debuts in the ongoing show. The company is bringing a few small scale…
Turkiye’s Secretariat of Defence Industries (Savunma Sanayii Başkanlığı-SSB), has two main objectives: modernization of Turkish Armed Forces, and establishing&developing a…
Malaysian company, Smart Weapon Storage Inntech Sdn Bhd (SWS), which has been around for 20 years, aims to extend its…
“We will continue to provide tailored solutions to our customers,” said Cem Altinisik, FNSS Corporate Communication Manager in an interview…
Tony Chegwidden, the Director of Business Development International at EDGE Group, is sharing his thoughts regarding the group’s focus and…
Boeing has advanced its manned-unmanned teaming (MUM-T) technology using a digital F/A-18 Super Hornet and MQ-25 Stingray. The testing shows…
Malaysia’s Lumut Naval Shipyard Sdn Bhd (LUNAS) inked a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Indonesian shipbuilder PT PAL Indonesia at…
Prime Minister of Malaysia, Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim, attended the unveiling of MALVUS SENSE SDN BHD’s CW-25H, a significant development…
KNDS France which is the main provider of artillery systems for the Royal Malaysian Army and a strategic industrial partner…
The upcoming 10th edition of Indo Defence 2024 Expo & Forum, renowned as one of the foremost international defence industry…
Malaysian firm MILDEF International Technologies unveiled its new Tarantula, 4x4 High Mobility Armoured Vehicle (HMAV) at the ongoing DSA. Also…
Nurol Makina and Nadicorp (Badanbas) are showing their NMS 4X4 armoured vehicle in Royal Malaysian Army camouflage for the first…
South African defence firm Denel is presenting its portfolio of guided weapons and land defence systems at the show. “Denel…
The Malaysian armed forces are accelerating their procurements of modern military equipment in their quest to transform their combat capability.…
PT Dirgantara Indonesia (PTDI) is currently participating in the Defense Services Asia (DSA) 2024 defence exhibition, scheduled from 6th to…
The French defence company and a leader in ground mobility solutions, Arquus is showcasing its proven range of defence and…
Tell me about Cendana Auto, and the products that you're featuring here? Cendana Auto is 100% a local Malaysian company,…
Thailand’s defence land system company, Chaiseri, is bringing three of its First Win (FW) series armoured vehicles to the show.…
Turkish weapons company Roketsan is showcasing its broad range of missile equipment at the ongoing show including its new generation…
Malaysia will buy 10 AN/AAQ-33 Sniper Advanced Targeting Pods from the United States. The proposed sale will improve Malaysia’s capability…
As far as high-profile visits go, this one was right up there on the list. After speaking at the opening…
Headquartered in Singapore with reporters spread across all major regions, GBP Aerospace & Defence is a leading media house that publishes three publications that serve the aerospace and defence sector - Asian Defence Technology, Asian Airlines & Aerospace and Daily News. Known industry-wide for quality journalism, GBP Aerospace & Defence is present at more international tradeshows and exhibitions than any other competing publication in the region.
For over three decades, our award-winning team of reporters has been producing top-notch content to help readers stay abreast of the latest developements in the field of commercial aviation, MRO, defence, and Space.
Copyright 2024. GBP. All Rights Reserved.
Home Defence & Security Space Commercial Aviation Maintence Repair & Overhaul Daily News Events About Us
2024 GBP all rights reserved.