Green light: Japan waves Koren Air/Asiana Airlines merger through

The planned merger between Korean Air and Asiana Airlines has taken a step forward with the approval of the Japanese competition authority. So far, 12 of the 14 authorities whose green light is needed have passed the deal,

In January 2021, Korean Air submitted the application to the JFTC, and in August it submitted a comprehensive initial report with a market and economic analysis. Korean Air has proactively initiated dialogue with all relevant parties to address various concerns raised by the JFTC.

However, Asiana Airlines and Korean Air still need to obtain approval from the EU Commission and the US competition authority. In Europe, tough concessions are likely to have to be made because the Commission fears that a dominant position in the cargo sector could emerge.