News
Korean Air posts 75% drop in interim profit amid high fuel costs
July 14th 2026
Korean Air (KAL) reported net profit of 145.4 billion won (US$94 million) for the six months to June 30 2026, down 75% from net profit of 589.1 billion won in the same six months in 2025. Read More » Revenue rose 20% to 9.5 trillion won, KAL said in a regulatory filing. "While outbound passenger demand from Korea slightly softened due to oil price hikes, inbound tourism grew and transit demand rose due to geopolitical developments in the Middle East," KAL said. "The airline maximized revenue by expanding capacity across key routes." The impact of challenging market conditions was felt hardest in the second quarter, as the South Korea carrier reported a net loss of 97.3 billion won for the three months to June 30 2026, compared with net profit of 395.9 billion won in the same three-month period in 2025. Looking ahead, the SkyTeam alliance member said it expected passenger demand to rebound in the three months to September 30, "driven by peak summer travel season and recovering travel sentiment", as well as the easing of fuel surcharges. "This momentum is expected to build robust demand, supported by steady inbound arrivals and a recovery in outbound travel from Korea," KAL said.
