KAL Captures Top Global Cargo
Carrier Position from Lufthansa
Represents a landmark feat in the Northeast Asia logistics hub project

Korean Air (KAL) has taken over the global No. 1 cargo carrier position from Lufthansa, which had dominated the cargo transport market for the past 19 years, figures, released recently by the International Air Transport Association (IATA), show.
KAL posted 8,164 million ton-km during last year to capture the No. 1 position in the airline cargo transport category from Lufthansa, which registered 8,028 million tons-km. Singapore Airlines and Cathy Pacific logged 7,143 million ton-km and 5,876 million ton-km, respectively. IATA, one of the world's largest aviation organizations, made the statistics public on July 1. IATA has a membership of 270 airlines from 140 countries, and KAL joined the IATA in 1989.
KAL's rise to the global No. 1 cargo carrier position is significant from a national perspective. Korea has taken the No. 1 position in such manufacturing areas as DRAM sales, TFT-LCD shipments and shipbuilding, but it is the first time that KAL has grabbed the top position in the service sector.
KAL Chairman Cho Yang-ho said, "KAL" leap to the global No.1 cargo carrier was possible thanks to combined efforts, including the government's policies to promote exports and build up infrastructure like Incheon International Airport, domestic firms' strengthened presence abroad and KAL's policy to expand the cargo transport business." KAL will continuously exert itself to realize the government's vision of developing Korea as the Northeast Asia logistics hub, Chairman Cho said.
It marks a landmark for not only an individual company, but also for history of domestic logistics, contributing to advancing the government's Northeast Asia logistics hub vision. KAL has handled cargo orders from such overseas markets as Southeast Asia, China and Europe via Incheon International Airport. Such foreigners' cargo volume being handled via Incheon International Airport accounts for 60 percent of KAL's total freight volume.
Last March, KAL declared the Global Carrier Vision with the goal of becoming the global No. 1 cargo carrier by 2007. KAL managed to realize the goal three years earlier than scheduled.
KAL's cargo transport business has made remarkable strides with the annual average growth rate of 27 percent since its inception. nw

Korean Air has risen to the world's top global cargo carrier.