South Korean No.1 flag carrier Korean Air Lines Co. has become latest to join the heated race over the urban airspace where automobile and defense equipment makers have already made head start with electric or automated transportation project.

The company announced on Wednesday that it launched urban air mobility TF team formed with experts from its aerospace business division responsible for aircraft manufacturing, sales and maintenance. It will review various technological partnerships with related institutions.

Korean Air Lines in June last year joined the state’s “UAM Team Korea” council, formed by the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport, that will come up with a national aerial mobility roadmap and technology development.

Hyundai Motor and Hanwha Systems, which have been competing to develop UAM technologies and establish related infrastructure, also are among the council members.

With Korean Air gearing up for UAM business, industry observers expect council members would actively seek for partnership among various institutions.

Hyundai Motor is expected to bring LIG Nex 1 Co. and Korea Aerospace Industries Ltd. (KAI) onboard. The carmaker has so far teamed up with KT for communications network, Hyundai E&C and Incheon International Airport Corporation for infrastructure, Korea Institute of Aviation Safety Technology for R&D, and the Export-Import Bank of Korea for finance.

Hanwha Systems has partnered with SK Telecom (communications network), Korea Airports Corporation (infrastructure), and the Korea Transport Institute (R&D).

By Lee Yu-sup and Lee Ha-yeon

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