Korean Air's sales rise record 26% in second quarter

SEOUL, July 13 (UPI) -- Korean Air said Monday it posted a record-high second-quarter revenue of $3.26 billion in 2026, up 26% from a year earlier, thanks to strong air cargo demand.

During the April-June period, however, its operating profit declined 34% year-on-year, falling to 169.8 million, as higher fuel costs amid geopolitical tensions in the Middle East weighed on earnings.

Korean Air noted that second-quarter passenger revenue amounted to $1.91 billion, up 11.88% from a year earlier, while cargo revenue jumped 46.1% to $1.03 billion.

The Seoul-based airline said that it increased sales during the three-month period by expanding capacity on key routes, as inbound tourism and transit demand increased passsenger traffic.

It added that growing investment in artificial intelligence and solid exports of Korean beauty products boosted the surge in air cargo services.

Korean Air expected that passenger demand would continue to rise in the third quarter, driven by the peak summer travel season and recovering travel sentiment coupled with lower fuel surcharges.

The company said that the momentum would sustain robust demand, supported by steady inbound arrivals and a recovery in outbound travel from South Korea.

"The cargo business aims to secure a stable revenue stream by actively targeting high-growth cargo sectors, particularly AI-related industries," the company said in a statement. "Korean Air will also flexibly manage capacity to respond to changing market conditions and maximize revenue."

The share price of Korean Air fell 3.36% on the Seoul bourse Monday, while the benchmark KOSPI plummeted 8.95%.

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This story was originally published July 13, 2026 at 11:21 AM.