Korean Air Lines Co Ltd recorded double-digit growth in export cargo volume from Penang in the first half of 2026, driven by surging demand for high-value semiconductor and electronics shipments bound for South Korea and the Americas.
Korean Air regional manager for Malaysia, Brunei and Bangladesh Kang Sang Bum said cargo demand from Penang continues to increase, prompting the airline to deploy more freighter flights to the state.
“In Penang, cargo is increasing and that is why we put more cargo flights to Penang,” NST quoted him as saying in a recent interview.
Korean Air Cargo currently operates six weekly freighter frequencies from Penang using Boeing B747-400F and B777F aircraft across four dedicated route loops. A route loop is a planned cargo service that stops at several cities along the way instead of flying between two airports. The airline also operates two weekly dedicated freighter services from Kuala Lumpur, supported by belly-hold capacity on its daily passenger flights between KL and Seoul Incheon.
The growth reflects Penang’s position as a major semiconductor and high-technology manufacturing hub. Korean Air general manager for KL Cargo Branch Lee Man Seok said the airline added extra flights in July to meet rising demand from electronics exporters, Bernama reported.
“Malaysia, particularly Penang, has become an increasingly important market due to its thriving semiconductor and high-technology manufacturing industries,” Lee said.
Freighter services from Penang primarily transport semiconductors, servers and medical equipment, while cargo from KL mainly consists of aerospace components, electrical and electronic products and solar panels, The Edge Malaysia reported.
Export cargo from KL recorded steady year-on-year growth in the first half of 2026, comprising electrical and electronic goods, aerospace parts and industrial materials. Korean Air said in a statement that it is carrying out facility and automation upgrades at its cargo terminal at Incheon to ensure handling efficiency for time-sensitive shipments, with the upgrades targeted for completion in the second half of 2026.
Korean Air’s freighter services from Malaysia are connected to its wider cargo network, allowing shipments to continue to other markets instead of flying only between Malaysia and South Korea. The airline operates a freighter network covering 45 cities in 26 countries, with a fleet of 23 dedicated freighters comprising B777F and B747-8F aircraft.
On the passenger side, the Kuala Lumpur-Seoul route recorded an average load factor of about 86 per cent in the first half of 2026, up from around 76 per cent in the same period last year. The airline carried 86,507 passengers on the route, while Malaysia-originating traffic to Seoul recorded 27,222 passengers, up 34 per cent year-on-year.
Korean Air is also reviewing long-term expansion plans for its Malaysia operations as it prepares to complete its merger with Asiana Airlines on 17 December 2026. The combined carrier will operate about 230 aircraft and serve more than 120 international destinations.
“We are reviewing long-term expansion options for the Kuala Lumpur-Incheon route, including aircraft upgrades and frequency increases. However, we have to assess market demand and there are still challenges related to aircraft delivery schedules,” Kang said during a media roundtable.
Both airlines will be merged into a single integrated flag carrier under the Korean Air brand, with the combined network providing Malaysian passengers greater access to destinations previously served by Asiana Airlines, particularly in Japan and North America.
