Korean Air to Take Back Ownership of In-flight Catering, Duty-free

‍SEOUL — Korean Air (KE) has announced plans to acquire the remaining 80% stake in Korean Air C&D Service from Hahn & Company.

The strategic buyback will restore the airline’s full ownership of its in-flight catering and duty-free retail operations.

The carrier previously divested an 80% stake in its in-flight catering and duty-free business to Hahn & Company in 2020. This was to secure liquidity during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Korean Air’s Board of Directors approved the transaction to acquire 5,010,343 shares, estimated at KRW 750 billion, on March 12.

With this acquisition, KE successfully reclaims a core pillar of its customer service operations.

An airline subsidiary

After the agreement is finalized, Korean Air C&D Service will operate as an airline-owned subsidiary.

Bringing these services back in-house aims to guarantee a stable supply of in-flight meals and strengthen overall service competitiveness.

Additionally, KE plans to roll out upgraded in-flight duty-free offerings to further enhance passenger experience.