Korean Air Marks 50 Years of Paris Passenger Service... A 'Civilian Ambassador' Contributing to Korea-France Exchange

First Flight in 1975 Carried Over 200 Passengers
Half a Century of Korea-Europe Economic and Cultural Exchange

Korean Air announced on June 5 that it held a commemorative event to mark the 50th anniversary of its passenger route to Paris, France. Paris was the first European city served by Korean Air, and the Seoul-Paris route is one of the airline's longest-running long-haul passenger routes.

Korean Air held a 50th anniversary event on the 2nd (local time) for passengers of flight KE902 departing from Charles de Gaulle International Airport in Paris, France. Cyril Jerul (fourth from the left), the 50th passenger to check in for the flight, received gifts including a ticket to Incheon and took a commemorative photo with Korean Air officials. Korean Air

On June 2 (local time), Korean Air held a 50th anniversary event for passengers of flight KE902 departing from Charles de Gaulle International Airport in Paris, France. The 50th passenger to check in for the flight received a ticket to Incheon, and all passengers were given souvenirs featuring the new corporate identity (CI).

On June 4, an official event was held at the Korean Cultural Center in Paris, attended by over 100 people, including Choi Jungho, Executive Vice President of Sales, Shim Hyunjun, Head of the France Branch, Moon Seunghyun, Ambassador to France, Lee Ilyeol, Director of the Korean Cultural Center in France, and Lee Jinsu, Head of the Paris Office of the Korea Tourism Organization.

Korean Air's relationship with France began in the early 1970s when it purchased the first passenger aircraft produced by Airbus. At the time, Airbus was a newly established European aircraft manufacturer with investments from France, the United Kingdom, Germany, and Spain. Sales of the Airbus A300, produced by Airbus, were lower than expected due to competition from American aircraft.

Introducing an unproven new aircraft model required large-scale investments in personnel and equipment. However, after multiple technical reviews, Korean Air signed a contract to purchase the A300. Korean Air was the first airline outside Europe to sign a purchase contract for an Airbus aircraft.

Following this, Korean Air confirmed a cargo route codeshare agreement with Air France, the French national carrier. The airline also played a significant role in facilitating the signing of an air transport agreement between the governments of Korea and France. Korean Air reportedly gained a thorough understanding of route safety and market conditions by operating cargo flights on the route from October 1973.

Subsequently, on March 14, 1975, Korean Air operated its first passenger flight to Europe, carrying 215 passengers and cargo. The Korean Air aircraft departed from Seoul Airport and landed at Orly Airport in Paris, launching a regular passenger route with twice-weekly service. Since 1982, the airline has been operating flights to Charles de Gaulle International Airport, the primary airport in Paris.

At the 50th anniversary event of Korean Air's passenger route launch held in Paris, France on the 4th, Shim Hyunjun, Head of Korean Air France Branch (from left), Kim Byungji, Head of Korean Air Passenger Sales Department, Lee Ilyeol, Director of the Korean Cultural Center in France, Choi Jungho, Executive Vice President of Korean Air Sales, Moon Seunghyun, Ambassador to France, and Jang Seongsik, Head of Korean Air Europe Regional Integration, are taking a commemorative photo. Korean Air

Since launching its Paris route, Korean Air has contributed in various ways to exchanges between Korea and France in fields such as economy, culture and arts, and diplomacy, fulfilling its role as a civilian ambassador. By introducing Korean-language audio guides at the Louvre Museum in Paris, the airline helped raise Korea's international profile. This initiative also led to the provision of Korean-language audio guides at major museums worldwide, including the Musee d'Orsay in Paris and the British Museum in London.

In recognition of these contributions, Korean Air became the first airline to receive a letter of appreciation from the Minister of Culture, Sports and Tourism in 2008. During the COVID-19 pandemic, the airline continued to operate direct flights on the Incheon-Paris route, enabling travel between the two countries.

A Korean Air representative stated, "Paris, France is a destination of special significance for Korean Air, as it represents more than just air transportation; it is a gateway that has expanded exchanges of people and goods between Korea and Europe. On the occasion of the 50th anniversary of our Paris route, we will do our utmost to strengthen the ties between Korea and France and to connect our customers to a better world."