Korean airlines all set for merger

Korea's two largest airlines are all set to complete their merger later this year. 

Korean Air's board of directors and Asiana Airlines’ shareholders have formally approved the agreement as the two airlines prepare to launch an integrated airline on December 17. 

Korean Air’s board ratified the merger agreement last week, fulfilling small-scale merger requirements under Article 527-3 of Korea’s Commercial Act, news hub Travel Mole reported.

Concurrently, Asiana Airlines secured shareholder approval during an extraordinary general meeting, with 81.86% shareholder attendance and 99.3% voting in favour.

These approvals formally ratify the merger agreement executed by both boards in May. 

Following creditor protection procedures and remaining administrative formalities, the corporate merger registration will be completed on December 17, 2026.

Korean Air continues to advance its Post-Merger Integration (PMI) roadmap. Following conditional merger approval from the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport (MOLIT) on June 25 and clearance of its merger registration statement on July 24, the airline is proceeding with Air Operator Certificate (AOC) amendments and international operational permits in close consultation with relevant authorities.

With merger approvals finalised, the two airlines are accelerating operational readiness, focusing on systems integration, joint training, and team engagement ahead of the launch. 

The birth of the integrated flag carrier will mark the completion of a consolidation process spanning over five years.

For passengers, it translates into nu,erous service upgrades, from lounge renewals, catering updates to terminal relocations to improve the traveler’s experience.

Vietnam gets set to open new international airport

Anyone flying into Ho Chi Minh City from December 1 might find themselves landing at a brand new airport.

Vietnamese authorities are preparing to open Long Thanh International Airport on December 1. 

This will set the stage for a gradual transfer of most international flights from Ho Chi Minh City’s overloaded Tan Son Nhat Airport, news hub Travel Mole reports.

The US$12.8 billion project is the largest and most expensive airport development in Vietnam’s history.

Located some 40km east of Ho Chi Minh City CBD in Dong Nai Province, Long Thanh is expected to become the country’s primary international gateway. 

State-owned Airports Corporation of Vietnam (ACV), which is developing the airport, aims to establish Long Thanh as a regional transit hub capable of attracting long-haul connecting traffic that currently flows through airports such as Singapore Changi, Bangkok Suvarnabhumi and Kuala Lumpur International.

The airport will accommodate 25 million passengers annually during its first phase, with future expansions eventually increasing capacity to 100 million passengers per year. 

The first phase is primarily intended to relieve congestion at Tan Son Nhat Airport, which has operated beyond its designed capacity for years.

ACV has proposed a three-stage transition plan that would move more than 90% of Ho Chi Minh City’s international passenger traffic to Long Thanh in 2027.

From December, the airport will handle all long-haul international services, cargo operations, newly launched international routes and additional frequencies. 

Domestic operations will continue primarily from Tan Son Nhat.