Seoul: South Korea's antitrust regulator said Tuesday it has approved a revised mileage integration plan following Korean Air Co.'s takeover of Asiana Airlines Inc., ahead of Asiana's planned absorption into the flag carrier in December. The Fair Trade Commission (FTC) approved the plan on the previous day after instructing Korean Air last December to resubmit it, citing the need to protect consumer rights by expanding opportunities to use mileage and taking other corrective measures.

According to Yonhap News Agency, under the plan, Korean Air is required to manage Asiana customers' mileage separately for 10 years from the date the two airlines merge. Asiana customers will retain their mileage under existing redemption terms and expiration periods without being required to convert it into Korean Air mileage. After the merger is completed in December, Asiana customers will be able to redeem their mileage on all Korean Air routes for bonus tickets, seat upgrades, combined cash-and-mileage payments, and shopping.

Korean Air will be required to maintain the number of passengers using bonus seats on popular routes to the Americas, Europe, and Oceania at or above the two airlines' combined 2023 level for the next 10 years. Korean Air will apply a 1:1 conversion rate for Asiana mileage earned through flights and a 1:0.82 rate for mileage earned through purchases or the use of services offered by partner companies. Customers can request conversion at any time during the 10-year period. Any mileage remaining 10 years after the merger will automatically be converted into Korean Air mileage at the applicable rates.

Asiana customers will also be assigned Korean Air membership tiers corresponding to Asiana's five existing tiers. For example, Asiana Platinum members will receive Korean Air's Million Miler status. Asiana Airlines currently operates as a subsidiary of Korean Air. The two airlines are scheduled to merge into a single corporate entity on Dec. 17.