Gov't approves Korean Air-Asiana mileage integration plan

Korea’s Fair Trade Commission (FTC) has approved Korean Air’s revised plan to integrate its mileage program with Asiana Airlines' program, setting conditions to preserve customer benefits and broaden opportunities to redeem points after the carriers merge. The country’s top antitrust watchdog approved the plan on Monday, nearly two years after it conditionally cleared Korean Air’s acquisition of Asiana. Under the original remedy package, Korean Air was required to submit a mileage integration proposal within six months of completing the acquisition on Dec. 12, 2024, and obtain regulatory approval before implementing it. Korean Air submitted its final proposal to the FTC on Sept. 1 after seven meetings with the regulator and four rounds of requests for revisions. Under the approved plan, Asiana mileage will be separately managed for 10 years from the date of the airlines’ official merger on Dec. 17, even after Asiana ceases to exist as a corporate entity. During that period, Asiana customers may retain their existing mileage instead of converting it to Korean Air’s program. As