Cho Won-tae, Chairman of Hanjin Group, Selected as 'Aviation Industry Leader of the Year' by ATW

[Asia Economy Reporter Hyunseok Yoo] Cho Won-tae, Chairman of Hanjin Group, has been selected as the person who demonstrated outstanding leadership in the global aviation industry this year by the world-renowned aviation media Air Transport World (hereinafter ATW).

On the 14th (local time), ATW announced that Chairman Cho Won-tae was selected as the 2023 'Aviation Industry Leader of the Year.' The award ceremony is scheduled to take place on June 2nd in Istanbul, Turkey.

ATW formed a global judging panel consisting of its editors and analysts and conducted a rigorous evaluation to select the best airlines and individuals in each field annually. This marks the 49th edition since it began in 1974.

In his acceptance speech, Chairman Cho Won-tae said, "The unprecedented pandemic crisis has proven why connectivity, the core value of the aviation industry, is so important. Despite the global air routes being blocked, Korean Air has strived to maintain connectivity in both passenger and cargo industries, and I believe this award is received on behalf of Korean Air’s employees who participated in these efforts."

He continued, "2023 will be a dynamic and exciting year for all of us. Korean Air will continue to evolve by adapting to changes while providing reliable services to our customers," he emphasized.

The reason Chairman Cho Won-tae was selected as the Aviation Industry Leader of the Year is that since his inauguration in 2019, he has successfully served as a member of the IATA Executive Committee and as Chairman of the SkyTeam Board, establishing himself as a key leader in the global aviation industry. Moreover, he successfully overcame the pandemic crisis with outstanding innovative thinking and agile judgment. His major decision to acquire Asiana Airlines also created an opportunity to elevate Korean Air to the next level, which received high praise.

In particular, Chairman Cho Won-tae’s award this year is a remarkable achievement as it marks the third consecutive year receiving honors from ATW, the most prestigious authority in the global aviation industry, following the 2021 Airline of the Year Award and the 2022 Cargo Airline of the Year Award. As a result, Korean Air has been recognized as a truly leading global airline.

Korean Air plans to make every effort to further solidify its status as a global leading airline based on this award.