What happened
Asiana has put an A321-200 into Korean Air's new livery with the Asiana name still on the fuselage, 105 days before the carriers become one airline on December 17, 2026. Asiana's separate Star Alliance brand ends on December 16, 2026. Korean Air becomes the surviving carrier when the merger is registered the next day.
The 67 aircraft owned by Asiana will be painted around maintenance and flying schedules, so Asiana colors will remain in service after the merger. Korean Air plans to warn passengers about flight number changes when KE flights still look like Asiana. Airport systems and other passenger-facing details are expected to change in stages around December 17. The two airlines already share the same Incheon terminal.
Elite benefits and award space tied to Asiana will give way to Korean Air. Mixed liveries and KE flight numbers are likely to confuse travelers after the merger.
There is nothing to book; watch KE flight numbers and airport information around December 17, 2026.
- Starts
- Dec 17, 2026
- Numbers
- 105 days: time left until the integrated Korean Air launch
- 67 aircraft: Asiana-owned jets to be repainted over time
- Takeaway
- There is nothing to book; watch for KE flight-number and airport-info changes around December 17, 2026, and expect Asiana-painted aircraft to keep flying after the merger.