Korea Airports Corporation Prepares for Full-scale UAM business with Air Taxi Dream Team

Korea Airports Corporation (KAC) joins hands with Hanwha Systems, SK Telecom and Korea Transport Institute for UAM (Urban air mobility) commercialization by 2025.

KAC (CEO Chang-wan Son) signed a quadripartite memorandum of understanding (MOU) with Hanwha Systems, SK Telecom and the Korea Transport Institute on January 27 to kickstart preparation for UAM commercialization.

According to this agreement, KAC is in charge of the construction and operation of UAM Vertiport (takeoff and landing sites) and UAM traffic management. Hanwha Systems will be developing UAM aircraft and ICT solutions for air navigation and traffic control. SK Telecom is responsible for building air traffic communication network and UAM mobility platform service, while the Korea Transport Institute will lead research on UAM service demand forecast and public acceptance.

In hopes to take the lead in UAM business, KAC and Hanwha Systems signed MOU in July 2020 for joint research and development on UAM aircraft, air navigation, traffic control and ICT solutions. With SK Telecom and Korea Transport Institute on board as part of the Dream Team, this project gained momentum on business at a full scale for UAM commercialization by 2025.

CEO Chang-wan Son of KAC said, “This cooperation will provide a critical juncture for Korea to become a leading country in Global UAM market. KAC will take initiative through concerted efforts, made by the four parties, in developing safe and convenient UAM transportation for the public by 2025”.