HL8508

HL8508 (c/n 41987, l/n 11), a 787-8 BBJ DreamLiner owned by Samsung, and operated by Korean Air, is making a stop at HNL from GMP as KAL2903.

17 July 2026 UPDATE

HL8508 departed for ICN this evening as KAL2444.

Aloha ‘Oe Asiana Airlines

Today marks the final day of operations for Asiana Airlines service between ICN and HNL. HL7732 (c/n 29174, l/n 481), the Star Alliance-liveried 777-28EER, is making today's final service as AAR232/231.  From 01 July, Korean Air will take over Asiana's five-times-per-week service as KAL8054/8053, with 787-9 DreamLiners flying the service.

This move is anticipation of the Asiana brand being retired as part of the acquisition by Korean Air, which total integration is scheduled to be completed this December.

01 July 2026 UPDATE

Korean Air's 787-9 DreamLiner HL7207 (c/n 34816, l/n 728) is making the first replacement flight as KAL8053/8054.

Korean Air And Asian Airlines Approve Merger

Airways Magazine reports via an Instagram post, that the board of directors for both Korean Air and Asiana Airlines voted to approve the merger of the two carriers today. Full integration into Korean Air is set for 17 December 2026.

Korean Air To End KAL Branding

Shareholders of Korean Air voted to end the English KAL branding, in favor of the new "KE Way" and KE branding, and the airline updated its livery last year. The KE branding is based on the airline's IATA two-letter designation. Part of this has to do with the merger with Asiana Airlines, which is scheduled to be completed this December. Nothing was mentioned regarding the status of the KAL ICAO three-letter designator.

Further information in this Newsis article.

Korean Air's HL8508

Korean Air's 787-8 BBJ, HL8508 (c/n 41987, l/n 11), will be making a stop at KOA from ORD as KAL2450 this afternoon.

Korean Air Switches To The 777-300ER

Korean Air switched from their 787-10 to the 777-300ER today. HL7783 (c/n 37644, l/n 806), the SkyTeam-liveried 777-3B5ER made this morning's flight. This fleet change is scheduled to run the month of January.

Korean Air Adds Extra ICN-HNL Service

For the month of December, Korean Air is adding a second ICN-HNL flight. KAL8053 will arrive an hour after KAL53, and return to ICN hour after KAL54. This flight will be flown with their 777-3B5ERs. HL8208 (c/n 37645, l/n 867) made today's flight.

03 December 2025 UPDATE 

Korean Air's 747-8i will replace their 777-3B5ERs from today. HL7644 (c/n 60411, l/n 1539) is making today's flight.

Korean Air's HL7638

Korean Air is substituting their 747-8i from today to Monday on KAL53/54. The newly repainted HL7638 (c/n 60408, l/n 1531) is making today's service between ICN and HNL.

Korean Air Orders 103 Boeing Airliners

Boeing announced today that Korean Air has placed an order for 103 airliners. The order consists of: 50 737-10s, 8 777-8Fs, 20 777-9s, and 25 787-10s. Today's order is in addition to Korean Air's 50-plane order (20 777-9s and 20 787-10s, with an option for 10 more) placed this past March.

Further details in this Boeing press release.

Korean Air's HL8515

Korean Air's HL8515 (c/n 66878, l/n 1152), the airline's first airliner in their new livery, is making its first appearance at HNL this morning. This 787-10 is making its rotation into Korean Air's KAL53/54 flights between ICN and HNL.

Korean Air To Introduce Rebranding

Airways Magazine's Instagram account has revealed that Korean Air will introduce a new livery, logo, and word mark, shortly after celebrating their 56th anniversary. The official unveiling is set for Tuesday, 11 March. Currently, the airlines' 787-10 HL8515 (c/n 66878, l/n 1152) is the first current aircraft in their fleet to wear the new livery. Korean Air is also set to unveil its first A350-900 in the coming days.

11 March 2025 UPDATE

Korean Air added a section on their website about the rebranding. Aviation vlogger Sam Chui attended the event.

Korean Air / Asiana Airlines Merger To Close This Month

CH-Aviation reports that with an anticipated official approval announcement from the US Department of Justice, the merger between Korean Airlines and Asiana Airlines is expected to close sometime this month. The approval from the USDOJ is the final piece of the puzzle to allow the merger between the two largest airlines in the Republic of Korea, with Korean Air taking the reins. The Asiana brand will last another two years, before it's absorbed into the Korean Air brand. Multiple concessions by both airlines had to be made before any approval was given by transport ministries around the world, especially where the two airlines serve.

Also, as part of the merger, Asiana Airlines' low-cost subsidiaries (Air Busan and Air Seoul) will be combined under Korean Air's LCC, Jin Air.

Korean Air's HL8508

Korean Air's VIP-configured 787-8, HL8508 (c/n 41987, l/n 11), will be making a stop at OGG from AFW as KAL2455. It left GMP for AFW on two days ago as KAL2453.

21 October 2024 UPDATE

HL8508 departed for GMP this afternoon as KAL2456.

Korean Air Launches ICN-HNL 787-10 Service

Korean Air launched 787-10 service today on their ICN-HNL service, KAL53/54. HL8515 (c/n 66878, l/n 1152) is making the first B78X flight. Korean Air becomes the second airline to have 787-10s serving HNL, along with United Airlines.

Korean Air To Use 787-10s For Winter Season

According to an AeroRoutes.com report, Korean Air will use their 787-10s for their ICN-HNL service beginning 01 December 2024, for their northern winter season, in place of their 787-9s. Currently, the airline has only two 787-10s in service, and they have three undergoing production testing. They also have one 787-9 in the production test phase, with 13 in service.

Korean Air recently ended their 747-8i service to HNL, and currently employs 777-3B5ERs, with 787-9s slated to take over in October.

Korean Air's Last 747 Service To HNL

Korean Air flew its last 747-8 service between ICN and HNL today. HL7636 (c/n 60407, l/n 1527) made the final flights today. The airline decided to have their 777-3B5ERs to take over the ICN-HNL service. Korean Air's 787-9s are scheduled to take the KAL053/054 service some time in the fall.

Since the airline sold five 747-8s to Sierra Nevada that will become the E-4s, Korean Air decided to allocate the remaining 747-8s to other routes.

This 2019 photo was our most recent of HL7636.

With today's flights, this marks the end of scheduled passenger 747 flights to/from HNL.

Korean Air's HL7204

Korean Air's HL7204 (c/n 60380, l/n 1549) will finally make its anticipated appearance at HNL today. This special liveried 777-3B5ER, features decals of the K-Pop group BlackPink and a promotion for the World Expo 2030 in Busan. It's arriving this morning as KAL53 from ICN, and will return this afternoon as KAL 54.

Korean Air's HL8068

Korean Air Business Jet's Gulfstream G650ER, HL8068 (msn 6199), is making a stop at HNL from DAL as KAL9052. This G650ER is one of three aircraft, also a Global Express XRS, and a Boeing BBJ, in the business jet fleet that offers private charter services.

Korean Air To Acquire Asiana Airlines

In a move to bolster South Korean commercial air travel, Korean Air announced today that they acquiring rival Asiana Airlines for over $1.6B USD. This merger would put the new Korean Air in the top ten in terms of airline size. The move by Korean Air's parent company Hanjin KAL, was partially due to the effects of the China Corona Virus pandemic on the airline industry as a whole. Prior to the pandemic, Asiana was experiencing financial troubles, and the current state of affairs made their situation much worse. This move should ensure the survivability of the South Korean airline industry, especially when it comes to international routes. The combined fleet will be over 250 aircraft with many common types.

Further details in this SamChui.com article.

Korean Air Ends 747-400 Flights To HNL

Today, Korean Air has ended their 747-400 flights to HNL from ICN [KAL53/54]. HL7460 (c/n 26404, l/n 1107), a 747-4B5, made the final flight from and to ICN. Korean Air's new 747-8Is will replace the older -400 models.