Korean Air: Difference between revisions

Revision as of 04:43, 12 October 2006

Revision as of 04:51, 12 October 2006

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Korean Air began in [[1962]] as '''Korean Air Lines''' and was owned by the [[South Korea|South Korean Government]]. It replaced the former Korean carrier [[Korean National Airlines]]. In [[1969]] KAL was acquired by the [[Hanjin Transport Group]] and became privately owned.

International flights to [[Hong Kong]], [[Taiwan]], and [[SeattleLos Angeles]], [[United States]] were flown with [[Boeing 707]]s until the airlineintroduction wasof privatized[[Boeing 747]] in [[1973]]. In [[1973]], KAL introduced [[Boeing 747]]s on their Pacific routes and started a European service to [[Paris, France|Paris]] using the 707s707 and Dc-10. KAL was also the Airbus's first customer outside of Europe.

On September 1 1983, Korean Air Lines Flight 007, also known as KAL 007 or KE007, was shot down by Soviet jet interceptors just west of Sakhalin Island. It was carrying 269 passengers and crew at the time, including U.S. congressman Lawrence McDonald. There were not any survivors.

The Soviet Union stated it did not know the aircraft was civilian and suggested it had entered Soviet airspace as a deliberate provocation to test their response capabilities.

A blue-top [[livery]] was introduced in 1st pf March, [[1984]] and the airline's name changed to '''Korean Air''' from '''Korean Airlines'''(Although this name is still used in official documents). In [[19861990s]] Korean Air became the first airline to use the new [[MD-11]] to supplement its new fleet of [[Boeing 747-400]]s. AsHowever, KoreanMD-11 Airdid grew,not meet the set performance. So its MD-11 jetswere becameconverted used only asto freighters (in addition to 747 freighters). Korean Air flies to the most US destinations of any Asian carrier (10, one pending). Korean Air currently owns 25% of [[Okay Airways]], a [[Tianjin]], [[People's Republic of China|PRC]]-based airline.

==Destinations==