Korean Air to Reclaim Full Ownership of Inflight Catering and Duty-Free Operations
- Joe Breitfeller

- 32 minutes ago
- 1 min read
Korean Air has announced plans to acquire the remaining stake in Korean Air C&D (Catering and Duty-Free) from Hahn & Company.

On Thursday (March 12, 2026), Korean Air announced plans to acquire the remaining 80 percent stake in Korean Air C&D Service from Hahn & Company. This strategic buyback will restore the airline’s full ownership of their inflight catering and duty-free retail operations. The transaction to acquire 5,010,343 shares, estimated at KRW 750 billion (US $500 million), was approved by Korean Air’s Board of Directors on March 12, 2026. After the agreement is finalized, Korean Air C&D Service will operate as a wholly-owned subsidiary.
Korean Air believes that bringing these essential services back in-house will guarantee a stable supply of inflight meals and strengthen overall service competitiveness ahead of the upcoming complete Asiana integration. Additionally, Korean Air plans to roll out upgraded inflight duty-free offerings to further enhance the guest experience. Previously, Korean Air divested an 80 percent stake in their in-flight catering and duty-free business to Hahn & Company in 2020 to secure liquidity during the COVID-19 pandemic, retaining a 20 percent share. With this acquisition, Korean Air successfully reclaims a core pillar of their customer service operations.
Source: Korean Air


