Company profile
Korean Air Cargo is the cargo division of Korean Air. The airline was founded on 1 March 1969, started cargo operations the same year and in 1971 became the first airline in the world to open a trans-Pacific freighter route. Its IATA code is KE, its ICAO code is KAL, its radio call sign is KOREAN AIR and its air waybill prefix is 180; the website is koreanair.com. The head office is at 260 Haneul-gil, Gangseo-gu, Seoul, and the main hub is Incheon International Airport (ICN), one of the key transfer hubs of the Northeast Asian cargo network.
On fleet and capacity, the freighter fleet comprises 4 Boeing 747-400F, 7 Boeing 747-8F and 12 Boeing 777F aircraft, 23 in total, among the largest freighter fleets worldwide. In September 2026 the company confirmed an order for 8 Boeing 777-8F aircraft to renew the fleet. Beyond its own freighters, the bellies of Korean Air long-haul passenger aircraft carry part of the volume, so freighter and belly capacity complement each other. A Cool Cargo Center at the Incheon hub supports pharmaceutical and temperature-controlled handling.
On alliance standing, Korean Air Cargo is a founding member of SkyTeam Cargo, joining when the alliance was created on 28 September 2000, and works with member carriers on space, network and ground handling. For Chinese shippers the value lies in the Incheon ICN hub: cargo from China is consolidated on scheduled freighters from Shanghai Pudong, Zhengzhou and Guangzhou or in bellies from Beijing, Hong Kong, Qingdao, Shenyang and Tianjin, then distributed on one AWB to North America, Europe, Southeast Asia and Oceania.
In mainland China it runs several scheduled freighter and belly stations: about ten freighter flights a week between Incheon and Shanghai Pudong with Boeing 747-8F and 777F aircraft; a Zhengzhou freighter service that began on 25 May 2023, flying on Thursday and Saturday with the Boeing 777F from Incheon via Xi'an; and a Guangzhou–Incheon freighter added on 3 July 2023, bringing Guangzhou to about ten flights a week in total. Beijing, Hong Kong, Qingdao, Shenyang and Tianjin have passenger belly and some freighter service, while Jinan, Kunming, Sanya, Wuhan, Xiamen and Yantai are passenger and belly stations.
On two-way flows, Chinese exports are mainly electronic and information products, vehicle parts, high-value industrial goods and temperature-controlled cargo, consolidated on freighters from Shanghai, Zhengzhou and Guangzhou and at belly stations before reaching Incheon; the return direction is mainly high-value machinery and electrical products and temperature-controlled goods, so the flows balance reasonably at the hub. The Incheon Cool Cargo Center provides dedicated facilities for temperature-controlled categories, with pharmaceutical and perishable cargo handled in the PH1/PH2/PH3 ranges. For Chinese shippers the frequency at Incheon means short connection waits and more flexibility for multi-region distribution than a single direct destination.
On gateway choice, East China shippers usually take freighter space at Shanghai Pudong; central and northern shippers connect via Zhengzhou, Beijing, Qingdao or Shenyang; southern China and Greater Bay Area shippers use the Guangzhou freighter or Hong Kong belly capacity; southwestern shippers book through the Chengdu office channel. Cut-off times, screening and temperature-controlled handover differ between terminals, and Goodhope Freight sets out the requirements and timing for the chosen gateway at booking so cargo is tendered on time and connects cleanly.
International air services connecting from China
Korean Air Cargo organises China-origin service around the single Incheon ICN hub: cargo leaves on scheduled freighters from Shanghai Pudong, Zhengzhou and Guangzhou or is consolidated at belly stations such as Beijing, Hong Kong, Qingdao, Shenyang and Tianjin, reaches Incheon, then moves through the network worldwide. North America is its traditional strength, with Incheon–North America trans-Pacific freighter capacity among the largest in the world, covering both US coasts and the main Canadian gateways.
For Europe, the hub connects to main western, southern and eastern European points; for Southeast Asia and Oceania, flights cover the main ASEAN cities and the Australian and New Zealand gateways. For Chinese exporters the transfer function at Incheon means cargo can be consolidated in Korea and connect at high frequency to trans-Pacific and intercontinental trunk routes, which suits routine shipments of electronic products, high-value industrial goods and temperature-controlled cargo.
On cargo fit, Chinese electronic and information products, vehicle parts, high-value industrial goods and temperature-controlled cargo suit the Korean Air freighters and the Incheon Cool Cargo Center; the return direction is mainly high-value machinery and electrical products and temperature-controlled goods. Shippers in second-tier Chinese cities can consolidate domestically to Shanghai, Guangzhou or a belly station and ship from there; payload and space are confirmed by the carrier on the day of booking.
| Connection direction | Main destinations | What it means for Chinese shippers |
|---|---|---|
| Consolidation at a Northeast Asian hub | Incheon ICN (Seoul) | Chinese cargo consolidated at Incheon feeds trans-Pacific and intercontinental trunk routes |
| North America transpacific | Both US coasts and the main Canadian gateways | Leading trans-Pacific cargo capacity, suited to Chinese exports to the United States in volume |
| European distribution | Main points in western, southern and eastern Europe | Connections through Incheon to the main European consumer markets |
| Southeast Asia and Oceania | Main ASEAN cities and the Australian and New Zealand gateways | Covers Southeast Asian and Oceanian markets and supports multi-region distribution |
The table summarises the main directions from public sources. Times are local. Actual schedules vary with the season and are subject to carrier confirmation on the day of booking.
Route network from China to the Incheon hub
The map shows China-origin cargo distributing through the Incheon ICN hub from an East Asia–Pacific view. Blue arcs are the collection sectors from major Chinese freighter and belly stations to Incheon; light arcs are the trunk routes from Incheon to North America, Europe, Southeast Asia and Oceania. Actual points and schedules are confirmed by the carrier on the day.
Freight advantages for Chinese shippers
Largest trans-Pacific capacity
Korean Air has flown the world's first transpacific all-cargo route since 1971. Its Incheon to North America capacity ranks among the largest in the world, so Chinese exports to the US get high-frequency mainline space.
Transit efficiency at the Incheon hub
ICN is Northeast Asia's cargo hub. Cargo from China is consolidated at Incheon and then distributed on one waybill to North America, Europe, Southeast Asia and Oceania, with frequent connections and wide network coverage.
Multi-tier Pharma temperature control
Pharma products are split into PH1, PH2 and PH3 temperature tiers, with temperature-controlled handling at the Incheon Cool Cargo Center. The product suits Chinese biopharma and temperature-sensitive cargo in both directions.
Founding member of SkyTeam Cargo
A SkyTeam Cargo founding member since 2000, Korean Air Cargo coordinates capacity with alliance carriers, giving Chinese shippers multi-carrier connection options within the alliance framework.
KAL-SkyBridge sea-air transport
The KAL-SkyBridge product moves cargo by sea and then by air. Chinese exports can go by vessel to a hub port and then onto an air mainline, balancing cost against transit time.
Fleet renewal and belly complement
The active fleet of 23 freighters is supplemented by 8 ordered Boeing 777-8F aircraft and by long-haul passenger belly space, forming a layered capacity structure in which freighters and belly holds complement each other.
Together these strengths form the case for choosing Korean Air Cargo: transpacific mainline capacity supports US-bound exports, the Incheon hub distributes to several regions on one waybill, Pharma temperature control and the Cool Cargo Center support pharmaceutical cargo, and the alliance network and sea-air product add flexibility. Depending on cargo type and destination market, Goodhope Freight assesses and selects the best combination of freighter or belly departures from Shanghai, Zhengzhou and Guangzhou.
Aircraft types and capacity mix
The active Korean Air Cargo freighter fleet has three types: 4 Boeing 747-400F, 7 Boeing 747-8F and 12 Boeing 777F, 23 freighters in total. The 747 series is a four-engine widebody freighter with a nose-loading door, suited to very long and outsize cargo. The 777F is a twin-engine long-haul freighter with a balance of fuel efficiency and payload, and it flies newer freighter points such as Zhengzhou. In September 2026 the carrier confirmed an order for 8 Boeing 777-8F aircraft to renew the fleet, shifting capacity further toward the new-generation twin-engine freighters.
Beyond its own freighters, Korean Air also carries cargo in the belly holds of long-haul passenger aircraft; Beijing, Hong Kong, Qingdao, Shenyang and Tianjin are belly-hold points where passenger aircraft do most of the work. Accurate piece, weight and dimension details at the booking stage help Goodhope Freight confirm freighter load planning or belly space with the carrier. Aircraft payload figures are compiled from manufacturer and airline public data; actual payload is confirmed by the carrier on the day of booking.
Boeing 747-8F
Four-engine long-haul widebody freighter with a nose-loading door, flying the Incheon to North America mainline. The Shanghai Pudong freighter service also uses this type alongside the 777F.
Boeing 777F
The mainstay twin-engine long-haul freighter. It flies the Zhengzhou to Incheon route on Thursdays and Saturdays, with good fuel efficiency for transpacific and medium to long-haul mainlines.
Boeing 747-400F
The classic four-engine freighter, still operating some scheduled cargo flights. Its nose-loading door suits very long and outsize items.
Boeing 777-8F (on order)
New-generation freighter ordered in September 2026 for fleet renewal. Routes and delivery timing will follow the carrier's announcements.
Aircraft capacity figures are compiled from manufacturers' and airlines' public data. Actual payload is subject to carrier confirmation on the day of booking.
Airports served in China and schedule connections
Korean Air Cargo runs two kinds of service in mainland China: scheduled freighters and passenger belly space. Shanghai Pudong, Zhengzhou and Guangzhou are scheduled freighter points. Beijing, Hong Kong, Qingdao, Shenyang and Tianjin are belly-hold points with some freighter service. Jinan, Kunming, Sanya, Wuhan, Xiamen and Yantai are belly-hold points. The table lists connection paths from major Chinese gateways. Times are local; schedules change with the season and are confirmed by the carrier on the day of booking.
| China origin ports | Connecting hub | Capacity type | Indicative schedule |
|---|---|---|---|
| Shanghai Pudong PVG | Incheon ICN | Scheduled freighter | About ten flights a week with Boeing 747-8F and 777F aircraft. Times are local; schedules change with the season and are confirmed by the carrier on the day of booking |
| Zhengzhou CGO | Incheon ICN (via Xi'an XIY) | Scheduled freighter | Thursdays and Saturdays with Boeing 777F aircraft, launched 25 May 2023. Actual schedule is subject to carrier confirmation |
| Guangzhou CAN | Incheon ICN | Scheduled freighter | About ten flights a week in total to Guangzhou, with freighter service added on 3 July 2023. Actual schedule is subject to carrier confirmation |
| Beijing PEK / Hong Kong HKG / Qingdao TAO / Shenyang SHE / Tianjin TSN | Incheon ICN | Passenger belly space and some freighter service | Belly capacity follows the passenger timetable. No consolidated public schedule is available for the exact frequencies; the carrier confirms on the day of booking |
No consolidated public schedule is available for the exact frequencies at belly-hold points such as Jinan, Kunming, Sanya, Wuhan, Xiamen and Yantai. Goodhope Freight can check with the carrier on request.
Cargo booking and connection path in China
Submit shipping instructions
The shipper gives Goodhope Freight the departure gateway (Shanghai, Zhengzhou, Guangzhou or a belly-hold point), the North American or European destination city, the commodity, piece weight and dimensions, and any temperature-control requirement. We then decide between freighter and belly routing.
Confirm space and rate
Goodhope Freight books freighter or belly space through the Korean Air Cargo China office or its local agent, confirming the rate, temperature tier and ULD type.
Departure and transit at Incheon
After acceptance at the Chinese gateway, the cargo reaches the Incheon ICN hub, is handled in facilities such as the Cool Cargo Center, and is distributed through the network to destinations in North America, Europe, Southeast Asia or Oceania.
Return leg and interline booking
High-value electronics and temperature-sensitive goods can be booked back in the reverse direction. Cost-sensitive cargo can use KAL-SkyBridge sea-air, moving by sea first and then onto an air mainline.
Temperature-controlled cargo, live animals, dangerous goods and out-of-gauge shipments must be declared at the booking stage so that Goodhope Freight can confirm the product tier and loading conditions. Flight times are local; schedules change with the season and are confirmed by the carrier on the day of booking. Before booking we give the shipper a list of rates, capacity and loading conditions, then complete the booking and departure arrangements once confirmed. Urgent cargo can request priority space, subject to carrier approval.
Specialist freight services from China
Pharma multi-tier temperature-controlled transport.Pharma products are split into PH1, PH2 and PH3 temperature tiers and handled with the temperature-controlled facilities at the Incheon Cool Cargo Center. The product suits Chinese biopharma companies shipping vaccines, reagents and active pharmaceutical ingredients, with monitoring across the full temperature range.
Live animal transport.The Live Animals product has AV1, AV2 and AV3 tiers with dedicated space and handling procedures for live animals. It suits breeding stock, pets and laboratory animals moving into and out of China, declared in advance under carrier rules.
Dangerous goods and out-of-gauge cargo.The DGR and OOG products cover standard dangerous goods declarations and the handling of very long, very high or irregular pieces. The nose-loading door on the Boeing 747 series suits out-of-gauge loads. Full piece, weight and dimension details plus packing information are required at the booking stage.
KAL-SkyBridge sea-air transport.The sea-to-air product suits cost-sensitive Chinese exports. Cargo moves by sea to a hub port and then onto an air mainline, balancing transit time against cost for non-urgent bulk shipments.
High-frequency transpacific mainline capacity.About ten freighter flights a week from Shanghai Pudong and about ten a week to Guangzhou, plus two Boeing 777F flights a week from Zhengzhou, give Chinese exports to the US stable transpacific mainline space.
SkyTeam Cargo network.As a SkyTeam Cargo founding member, Korean Air Cargo coordinates space with alliance carriers, so cargo from second-tier Chinese cities can reach the Incheon hub through the alliance network and cut out repeated handovers.
High-value industrial goods.Electronic information products, auto parts and high-value industrial goods suit freighter space. Transit at Incheon follows freighter terminal security procedures, and high-value cargo can request declared value cover and priority space.
Multi-gateway consolidation in China.Shippers in East China depart via Shanghai Pudong, in South China via Guangzhou and in Central China via Zhengzhou; shippers in North and Northeast China connect through the Beijing, Qingdao and Shenyang belly-hold points. Goodhope Freight coordinates the domestic consolidation.
China contact
Korean Air Cargo has several own offices in China. Publicly listed contact offices include Beijing, Shanghai, Qingdao, Shenyang, Hong Kong, Chengdu and Changsha, each handling cargo sales and booking for its region. Addresses and phone numbers follow the latest publication on the airline website koreanair.com; where an address has changed, the carrier's confirmation on the day applies. Cargo status and flight information can be checked on the official website.
Goodhope Logistics (China) Limited, website https://goodhope86.com, handles air freight from major Chinese gateways to the Incheon hub in Korea and onward through the Korean Air Cargo network to North America, Europe, Southeast Asia and Oceania. We provide booking at Chinese gateways, transhipment at Incheon, Pharma temperature control and sea-air arrangements, and can help Chinese shippers reach Korean Air Cargo's offices in China for the latest capacity and schedule information.