Korean Air (KRX:003490) unveiled physical AI unmanned aircraft capable of autonomous mission planning and execution at an industry conference in Busan Wednesday, expanding its footprint in drone technology from civil aviation maintenance into defence and commercial delivery segments. The showcase included high-speed multi-purpose models and AI-assisted maintenance diagnostics.
The "physical AI" branding refers to AI systems embedded in hardware platforms that perceive and act on environments autonomously. Korean Air operates aircraft MRO facilities in Incheon and has begun bidding on drone repair contracts with government agencies.
Korean Air's market capitalisation was ₩10.7 trillion at Thursday's close. First-half 2026 operating income of ₩380 billion was up 47% from a year earlier, reflecting strong international leisure travel and fuel-hedging gains. Cargo revenue has declined as freight rates normalized from 2021-2022 peaks.
Defence contractors globally are packaging autonomous systems and digital logistics as growth avenues as military budgets modestly decline and commercial drone markets expand faster than manned aviation.
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| Symbol | Last Price |
|---|---|
| 003490Korean Air Lines Co., Ltd. | ₩30,200 +3.6% |