‘KAL’ Abbreviation Officially Removed From Korean Air Charter After 60 Years

Korean Air is reorganizing its brand naming system ahead of its integrated launch, moving to remove the English abbreviation “KAL” from its official framework.

According to the aviation industry and a notice convening Korean Air’s shareholders’ meeting published on February 25, the company will put forward an agenda item at next month’s regular general meeting to delete provisions related to the English abbreviation (KAL) from its articles of incorporation.

The company plans to exclude the long-used abbreviation “KAL” from its official naming and to update its external brand system by placing the Korean Air brand at the center. Internally, it plans to switch to using “KE,” which the article describes as the International Air Transport Association (IATA) identifier code.

The move comes as Korean Air prepares for an integrated launch next year with Asiana Airlines, and is described as part of an effort to rebuild the image of the combined carrier.

Yun-seok Jeong, head of Korean Air’s U.S. West branch, said the company decided to unify its brand abbreviation while revising its corporate identity (CI). He added that it has been quite some time since the airline used “KAL” externally, and that the change is meant to standardize legacy abbreviation rules that were still sometimes used internally.

If the change goes through, “KAL” is expected to disappear gradually from the names of various affiliated businesses as well. Existing services such as KAL Limousine are widely reported to be likely to be replaced with the Korean Air name.

“KAL” first appeared in 1962 as an abbreviation used during the era of the Korean Air Lines. After the Hanjin Group acquired the company in 1969, the abbreviation became an element symbolizing the airline’s corporate identity.

It was used broadly across the group, including at holding company Hanjin KAL, and in businesses such as hotels, limousine services, and cultural operations. Even after the “KOREAN AIR” brand was introduced in 1984, “KAL” continued to be used alongside it.

The decision is also described as part of continued brand rebuilding ahead of the integrated carrier’s launch. By putting forward the familiar flight code “KE,” the company aims to strengthen new brand recognition and push image integration suited to a single-airline system.

At its 56th anniversary event last year, the company also announced a corporate value system under the name “KE WAY.” Won-tae Cho, chairman of Hanjin Group, emphasized at the time that KE WAY would become the standard defining Korean Air’s identity.

BY HOONSIK WOO [woo.hoonsik@koreadaily.com]