IATA ranks Korean Air Cargo World's No. 2

Korean Air has been ranked by IATA (International Air Transport Association) as the world's second largest cargo carrier in terms of scheduled international freight ton kilometers (FTK).

Korean Air recorded 6.8 billion FTKs behind Lufthansa Cargo which recorded 7.2 billion FTKs in 2003 according to IATA. Korean Air had been ranked number two from 1996 until 2000 for the five consecutive years and was ranked third in 2001 and 2002.

Singapore Airlines ranked third with 6.68 billion FTKs, Cathay Pacific ranked fourth carrying 5.19 billion FTKs and Air France, a member of SkyTeam Cargo, ranked fifth carrying 4.87 billion FTKs.

Korean Air has been a leader in air cargo industry for more than 30 years. It has taken numerous innovative actions which include creating 'SkyTeam Cargo', the world's first cargo alliance, 'US Cargo Sales Joint Venture', also first of its kind and the unique 'KAL-SkyBridge' service that seamlessly bridges Korean Air Cargo's Chinese freight flow with the shipping and trucking operations of Korean Air's parent company, Hanjin Group.

Korean Air's cargo operation has been highly praised in the industry. Last year's naming of 'Cargo Airline of the Year for 2003' by Air Transport World (ATW) was just an example.

"We will not be just satisfied with the current result," says Ken Choi, President of Korean Air Cargo Business Division. "We aim to become world's number one cargo carrier by 2007. We are continuously striving to achieve maximum amount of efficiency in all areas of our operation by consistently introducing new innovative products that can meet and exceed our customers' expectations and working more closely with our SkyTeam Cargo partners to maximize synergies. We will also develop new routes and markets in China, India, and Europe as well as maintain our strong presence in trans-Pacific market. I am sure we can achieve our goal of becoming the number one successfully," he added.

Meanwhile, Korean Air was ranked the world's 15th largest passenger airline in terms of scheduled international revenue passenger kilometers by recording 35.57 billion RPKs.

Korean Air, with a fleet of 118 aircraft including 21 freighters, operates almost 400 flights per day to 89 cities in 33 countries.