KOREAN Air has inked a partnership and codeshare MoU with Myanmar Airways International (MAI) to promote bilateral cooperation in all areas including passenger traffic, safety, inflight services, flight operations and maintenance.
The agreement will see MAI place its 8M code on Korean Air’s daily flight between Seoul and Yangon (TTG Asia e-Daily, September 19, 2012). Korean Air plans to expand the codeshare agreement on flights operated by MAI. Myanmar’s flag carrier currently operates seven international routes.
Separately, Korean Air also announced that it has formally acquired 44 per cent of Czech Airlines, having made a bid in early March (TTG Asia e-Daily, March 5, 2013). It is now the latter’s second largest shareholder.
Yang Ho Cho, chairman and CEO of the Hanjin Group and Korean Air, said: “We have known Czech Airlines for a number of years, during which we have both been part of the SkyTeam alliance.”
The move also makes Korean Air the first South Korean airline to acquire a stake in a foreign airline, offering its passengers a wider variety of European routes via Prague.
According to a press release issued by the airline, the carrier will expand its network through Prague airport by increasing the number of codeshare flights and reworking connection schedules with Czech Airlines. Twice-weekly direct flights linking Prague and Incheon are also on the cards.
