In a powerful demonstration of their commitment to the community, employees of Korean Air and Delta Air Lines joined forces on August 14 to participate in a housing project in Cheonan, Chungcheongnam Province. The initiative, carried out in collaboration with Habitat for Humanity Korea, aimed to provide much-needed housing for local families.
A dedicated team of 33 employees – 23 from Korean Air and 10 from Delta – worked together on various construction tasks despite the oppressive summer heat. From bricklaying to roofing and carpentry, the collaboration was an example of the strong partnership between the two airlines that extends beyond business operations to social services.
“Working alongside our Delta colleagues under such difficult conditions has made the experience even more rewarding,” said Kamin Jeong, Corporate Communications Manager at Korean Air. “Knowing that our efforts are helping to provide a new home for families in the community is incredibly fulfilling.”
“I am excited to be part of this momentous event. The joint venture gives us the opportunity to go beyond business and serve our community together. This experience motivates me to keep going and do even more for the community,” said June Kim, Senior Marketing Coordinator at Delta Air Lines.
The partnership between Korean Air and Habitat for Humanity Korea began in 2001 and initially focused on financial support for construction costs. In 2004, the airline’s employees began to participate directly in housing projects. Over the past two decades, approximately 800 Korean Air employees have contributed to the construction of 18 homes across Korea.
Since launching their trans-Pacific joint venture in 2018, Korean Air and Delta Air Lines have collaborated on numerous community service projects, including Habitat for Humanity’s housing initiatives in the Philippines and Los Angeles, Korean Air’s annual tree-planting project in Baganuur, Mongolia, a Han River cleanup in Seoul and a Santa Monica Beach cleanup in Los Angeles. These joint efforts underscore the airlines’ shared commitment to fostering positive change in the communities they serve.
About Korean Air
Korean Air has been operating globally for more than 55 years and is one of the world’s 20 largest airlines. In 2019, pre-COVID, it carried more than 27 million passengers. From its global hub at Incheon International Airport (ICN), the airline serves 111 cities in 39 countries on five continents with a modern fleet of 159 aircraft and over 20,000 professional employees.
Korean Air’s outstanding performance and commitment to the highest levels of safety and customer service have been widely recognized. The airline has received numerous awards, including a 5-star rating from Skytrax and the Airline of the Year and Cargo Operator of the Year awards from Air Transport World.
Korean Air is a founding member of the SkyTeam airline alliance and has developed into one of the largest transpacific airlines through its joint venture with Delta Air Lines.
About the Korean Air and Delta joint venture
Korean Air and Delta Air Lines are celebrating the sixth anniversary of their highly successful trans-Pacific joint venture, which has benefited more than 9 million customers since its launch in May 2018.
Today, Korean Air and Delta offer 18 departures between Seoul-Incheon and the United States on peak days, connecting more than 290 destinations in the Americas and more than 80 destinations in Asia.
More than 4,000 customers transfer between the airlines daily at Incheon, an increase of over 40 percent in six years. Korean Air and Delta are working closely together to develop products and services that ensure a consistent and industry-leading customer experience, including seamless check-in, reciprocal mileage benefits and convenient and coordinated flight schedules.
All images courtesy of Korean Air/Delta Air Lines
