Korean Air showcases AI, drone technology at 2026 Korea Drone·UAM Expo

Korean Air is participating in the 2026 Korea Drone·UAM Expo, which runs for three days starting Wednesday at Songdo Convensia in Incheon's Yeonsu-gu, where it will unveil a range of future aerospace technologies.

Co-hosted by the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport and Incheon city, the expo will feature Korean Air's core next-generation aviation technologies, including AI, unmanned aerial vehicle platforms, digital maintenance, repair and overhaul, and an integrated urban air mobility operations solution.

The airline's booth features LED towers and live robotic equipment, allowing visitors to experience the future aviation ecosystem firsthand.

In the intelligent air traffic management segment, Korean Air will present ACROSS, a next-generation mobility operations and control solution the company has been developing by drawing on its extensive aviation expertise. ACROSS is an integrated control system that manages multiple UAM aircraft in real time and provides optimal flight routes. Its safety and control capabilities were verified through the first and second phases of the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport's K-UAM Grand Challenge demonstration project.

Korean Air has set up a joint booth with Incheon International Airport Corp., KT Corp and Hyundai E&C to display individual system modules alongside its own exhibits.

In the autonomous flight segment, the company will showcase its AI pilot concept — a vision of future combat aircraft flown by AI — along with a low-observable unmanned drone wingman and a flight-test aircraft being co-developed with US defense firm Anduril.

Korean Air will also introduce its digital MRO system, in which robots and AI work together to inspect aircraft. An inspection drone that examines the upper surfaces of aircraft and an inspection rover that moves along the ground collaborate to assess the aircraft's exterior. Footage captured by the robots is transmitted in real time to the cloud, where AI analyzes it and can detect defects as small as 1 millimeter. The system has also cut exterior inspection time from 10 hours to just one. The technology is now approaching commercial deployment.

"We will widely promote Korean Air's advanced strategic aerospace capabilities in the global market and lead the digital transformation of South Korea's future aerospace industry on the back of continuous technological innovation," a company official said.