| Korean Air B787-9 / Courtesy of Korean Air |
By Kim Hyun-bin
Korean Air is set to enter the urban air mobility (UAM) market, upping competition in a field where Hyundai Motor and Hanwha have had a head start.
The carrier launched an urban air mobility task force (TF) team with experts from its aerospace business division which is in charge of aircraft manufacturing, sales and maintenance.
Korean Air plans to use its background and know-how in the air transport, manufacturing and maintenance business to gain an edge in the UAM business.
Last June, the country's leading airline joined the government's "UAM Team Korea" council hosted by the Ministry of Land Infrastructure and Transport to enhance the country's UAM roadmap and make technological leaps in the field.
Korean Air is expected to seek partnerships with related institutions
Hyundai Motor Group and Hanwha Group are also focusing on UAM as one of their key future growth engines, aiming to offer air taxi services and tap potential demand from the military.
Hyundai Motor plans to do everything related to its UAM development ― from blueprints to the commercialization stage ― in-house, and has recently been hiring experts in the field.
The company aims to unveil an unmanned aerial system (UAS) for cargo by 2026, as well as operate an automated UAM model in the downtown Seoul area by 2028, and an intercity UAM by 2030.
Hanwha Systems is cooperating with global companies to commercialize its air taxi business. The company forged a partnership with Overair.
Hanwha Systems aims to develop an air taxi by 2024 and run a trial of the vehicles in 2025.