Korean Air (KAL) has finalised a $20 million agreement for Delta Air Lines to give assistance with the overhaul of the South Korean flag carrier's flight operations and training.
Under the deal, the US carrier will help overhaul KAL's flightdeck operations, cabin services and safety from 1 October. The 36-month programme will involve the secondment of a team of between 10 and 20 retired Delta personnel to its Korean code-share partner.
The cost of the deal involves restructuring and separating KAL's pilot training and flight check operations, overhauling pilot managerial positions, cutting hours and recruiting additional pilots. The changes build on recommendations from an earlier audit by Delta.
Insurers, in the meantime, are poised to decide whether to write off a two year old KAL Boeing 747-400 badly damaged during a heavy landing at Kimpo International Airport on 5 August. Damage is estimated at around $100 million. The incident investigation is focusing on the possibility of asymmetrical thrust reverser deployment and abnormal power inputs.
Source: Flight International
