Korean Air and Asiana Align Pilot Training Ahead of 2026 Merger
Korean Air and Asiana Airlines have taken another key step toward their planned merger by holding a joint instructors’ meeting and integration workshop focused on aligning pilot training and operational standards. The event brought together around 150 instructors from both airlines, including line instructors, academic trainers, crew resource management (CRM) specialists, and aircraft systems experts.
The workshop aimed to harmonize flight training procedures, review recent operational incidents, and ensure consistency across both airlines’ flight education systems ahead of the anticipated merger completion at the end of 2026. Participants exchanged best practices on fleet-specific training, simulator use, and instructional methodologies to build a unified approach to safety and flight performance.
Korean Air has invested heavily in modernizing its flight training infrastructure, including the development of new instructional video modules for normal and abnormal flight procedures, an expanded Flight Training Center, and the integration of virtual reality (VR)-based training tools. These enhancements are designed to create immersive, data-driven learning environments that improve pilot proficiency and safety awareness.
As part of the ongoing collaboration, Korean Air and Asiana have jointly developed a Full Flight Simulator (FFS) program that will launch next year. The program is designed to support standardized pilot education across both fleets, facilitating a smoother transition once the two carriers fully integrate their operations.
Industry observers note that the merger of Korean Air and Asiana—two of South Korea’s largest airlines—will create one of Asia’s most comprehensive aviation networks, combining resources and expertise across training, maintenance, and fleet management. Aligning pilot instruction and safety protocols early in the process is seen as a critical step in ensuring operational cohesion and maintaining the high safety standards for which both airlines are known.
“The joint training workshop underscores the commitment of both carriers to safety, excellence, and seamless integration,” a Korean Air spokesperson said. “By unifying our training philosophies and methodologies, we’re laying the groundwork for a stronger, more efficient airline group.”
The Korean Air–Asiana merger, first announced in 2020, is one of the most significant consolidation efforts in global aviation. With regulatory reviews nearing completion, the joint pilot training initiative marks another milestone in preparing the combined airline for full operational readiness by late 2026.
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Sources: AirGuide Business airguide.info, bing.com, wsmv.com