News
Ties are out at Korean Air
May 10th 2019
Relaxed dress code reflects new leadership of Walter Cho. Read More »
Korean Air will no longer require male staff to wear neckties year-round. Ties were previously exempted from the dress code during warm summer months. Staff see the decision as Korean Air being more relaxed and youthful. Asiana Airlines has long had a more casual dress code while Eastar Jet allowed female cabin crew to have long hair.
It is one of the first prominent management decisions of Walter Cho following the April 2019 passing of his father. The late Cho had spent a number of months away from airline headquarters while seeking treatment in Los Angeles.
Korean Air is also discontinuing first class on short- and long-haul routes that are more leisure-oriented with weak first class demand. This is includes holiday European destinations like Barcelona. Korean Air is so far not planning to retrofit aircraft. Some of its fleet has a distinct first class product while other aircraft have a nearly identical seat but with differentiated service. The late Cho is said to have been a staunch proponent of first class.
Walter Cho in late April was appointed chairman of Hanjin, replacing his late father. He has not yet had a formal change of title at Korean Air. However, a formal change of title was not submitted to the regulator on time, leading local media to speculate Walter and his siblings were feuding over who would manage Hanjin. Hanjin has reportedly communicated to the government that Walter will be designated chairman by 15 May.
