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Korean Air and Skyports Infrastructure are to collaborate on the development of a vertiport, contributing their experience in flight operations, air traffic management, and infrastructure. Announcing the partnership on February 27 at the Drone Show Korea in Busan, the airline and the UK-based group did not identify a location for the facility, which will be used “to conduct joint demonstrations and pilot programs in regions identified for early advanced air mobility commercialization.”
The concept will combine Korean Air’s ACROSS (Air Control & Routing Orchestrated Skyway System), first developed in 2024 for low-altitude applications. The carrier said its operating system will enable “comprehensive advanced air mobility fleet operations” applicable to eVTOLs, drones, and helicopters.
Down on the ground, Skyports’ physical infrastructure will be augmented by its proprietary Vertiport Automation System. This is intended to handle passenger processes including check-in, security screening, boarding, and arrival procedures.
The upcoming vertiport project builds on South Korea's ‘K-UAM Grand Challenge,’ a government-led initiative launched in 2023 to support the commercialisation of eVTOL aircraft in the Korean market. In 2025 multiple helicopter flights conducted to validate the ACROSS technology.
In October 2025, Korean Air announced it was planning to operate up to 100 of Archer Aviation’s Midnight aircraft through what the Californian eVTOL developer described as an exclusive arrangement. In 2023, the national carrier also signed a strategic partnership with Hyundai-backed Supernal in 2023, while rival developers Eve Air Mobility and Joby Aviation also announced plans to enter the Korean market.
Development of the new vertiport concept comes as the apparent frontrunners in the eVTOL race-to-market are progressing through the latter stages of certification. Skyports’ flagship vertiport site, adjacent to Dubai International Airport and nearing completion, is set to host its first flights later this year with launch operator Joby.