Korean Air, GS Retail ink strategic partnership

[Courtesy of GS Retail Co.]

South Korea’s flagship carrier Korean Air Lines Co. announced on Monday that it signed a strategic cooperation memorandum of understanding (MOU) with retailer GS Retail Co. to pursue a wide range of joint projects and enhance customer benefits.

Under the MOU, the two companies plan to leverage Korean Air’s global airline infrastructure and GS Retail’s distribution capabilities to create synergies across various businesses.

Korean Air is currently considering allowing its mileage points to be used at GS25 convenience stores, GS The Fresh supermarkets, and GS Shop home shopping channels while enabling customers to earn their Korean Air mileage points based on their spending at these outlets.

The two companies also plan to open Korean Air-themed “GS25 flagship stores” at Incheon International Airport and in countries where both companies operate, such as Mongolia and Vietnam, as part of their brand marketing collaboration. They are also considering selling Korean Air physical gift cards at GS25 and GS The Fresh stores once these cards are released.

The duo will also engage in joint social contribution activities to promote environmental, social, and governance (ESG) management. This includes volunteer work by their employees to plant trees in the “Korean Air Forest” in the Baganuur district of Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia, to help prevent desertification. They also agreed to provide joint relief supplies in the event of a disaster in the overseas regions where both companies are present.

“Our close cooperation with GS Retail will create new synergies,” a Korean Air official said. “We will continue to explore various collaborative opportunities moving forward.”