The European Commission says it is satisfied that Korean Air (KE, Seoul Incheon) has met the conditions set down by it in a February 2024 conditional approval of the carrier's proposed merger with Asiana Airlines (OZ, Seoul Incheon). It said on November 28 that it had concluded its review and that Korean had fulfilled its promises.

The two key conditions included facilitating a "remedy carrier" on four overlapping routes between South Korea and Europe, namely to Barcelona El Prat, Frankfurt International, Rome Fiumicino, and Paris CDG, and the divestiture of Asiana's cargo business.

Korean Air has since assisted t'way Air (TW, Daegu) in starting flights to these airports and has committed to providing operational support including aircraft, flight crew, and maintenance services. Asiana has also since sold its cargo business, including its freighter fleet, to Air Incheon (KJ, Seoul Incheon).

The United States is now the only remaining jurisdiction still to approve the merger that was first proposed around four years ago. Korean Air is understood to be providing similar assistance to Air Premia (YP, Seoul Incheon) and put that operator's name forward as a remedy carrier on US routes, although Air Premia already flies there.

Korean Air says it has submitted the European Commission's final approval to the US Department of Justice and says it expects that agency to issue its merger approval by the end of December.