Korean Air has poorest safety of country’s 11 airlines

Flagship carrier Korean Air had the poorest safety record of the country’s 11 airlines in an annual survey released Monday by the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport.

Korean Air achieved record earnings last year with sales of W13.4 trillion and W2.8 trillion in operating profit mainly thanks to its cargo business but seems to have neglected vital safety upgrades (US$1=W1,317).

Korean Air scored just four out of 10 points in the area of aircraft accidents. Safety accounted for 10 percent of the 100-point overall score.

One Korean Air passenger plane suffered a minor collision with an Icelandair plane at Heathrow Airport in London in February last year, while another overshot the runway at Mactan-Cebu International Airport in the Philippines in October.

Korean Air said it operates 157 airplanes, which “makes it difficult to avoid all accidents” but pledged to improve its safety record.

Budget carrier Fly Gangwon also scored poorly for safety after a mechanic was caught smoking on a plane, but Air Busan ranked highest, followed by Air Premia and Asiana Air Lines.

This is the first time that the ministry has published the safety rankings since it started the survey in 2020.

Ministry official Jeong Yong-sik said, “We are focusing on managing risk now that international flights have resumed” and promised the government will bolster safety inspections. english.chosun.com