Korean Air to recode Asiana Airlines flights ahead of Dec. 17 merger launch

Korean Air will transfer Asiana Airlines customer reservation data in advance as it prepares to launch a unified carrier with Asiana on Dec. 17.

Korean Air announced Monday that it will carry out a flight code reassignment — known as a REAC process — converting Asiana Airlines flight codes to Korean Air codes between Nov. 2 and Dec. 3. The change applies to customers who hold existing Asiana Airlines reservations or tickets for flights departing on or after Dec. 17, the planned launch date of the merged airline.

The measure is designed to minimize confusion among passengers as Asiana-operated flights transition to Korean Air operations, and to ensure stable, uninterrupted service following the integration.

Korean Air plans to migrate Asiana Airlines reservation and ticketing data ahead of the changeover so that customers can travel without disruption using their updated booking information.

The airline will transfer affected reservations in stages, taking into account system stability and customer convenience. Passengers whose flight codes are being changed will receive individual notifications via KakaoTalk alerts, text messages and email, giving them ample time to review their new reservation and ticket details before departure.

In addition, Korean Air will post a frequently asked questions section on its website and mobile app covering key changes related to the Asiana integration, allowing customers to familiarize themselves with the updates in advance.

"The most important thing for us throughout the integration with Asiana Airlines is minimizing inconvenience for our customers and providing stable service," a Korean Air official said. "We will pursue the integration smoothly while doing our utmost to protect customer convenience through thorough advance communication and a phased flight code transition."

Meanwhile, Korean Air and Asiana Airlines have begun offering free in-flight Wi-Fi on select routes this month using Starlink's low-earth orbit satellite constellation, part of a broader push to enhance passenger experience ahead of the unified carrier's launch.