For the second year running, Korean Air and Delta Air Lines joined forces to help protect Southern California’s coastline, participating in a spirited beach cleanup on April 24 near the iconic Santa Monica Pier.
In partnership with Heal the Bay, a leading California-based environmental nonprofit, 45 employees from both airlines formed teams of four to take part in a friendly “Suits on the Sand” challenge. The collaboration led to the removal of hundreds of pounds of trash and thousands of cigarette butts—making a visible and meaningful impact on one of LA’s most beloved beaches.
The cleanup is part of the Korean Air-Delta Joint Venture’s broader commitment to environmental and community initiatives. Now in its sixth year, the partnership has led efforts around the world, including tree planting in Mongolia, river cleanup projects in Seoul, and global homebuilding programs in collaboration with Habitat for Humanity.
Before the cleanup began, a Heal the Bay educator shared insights on marine pollution and ocean conservation, setting the stage for a competitive and community-driven cleanup effort.
“It’s amazing to see everyone coming together to make a real impact,” said K.H. Lee, General Manager and Head of Passenger Business for the Americas. “Just like we do in the skies, we're stronger when we work together. Today’s effort is one small way to give back to the beachside communities we’re proud to serve—especially in light of the recent wildfires.”
“Korean Air and Delta are committed to making a positive difference in the communities we connect,” said Rob LeBel, Managing Director, International & Specialty Sales at Delta Air Lines. “Our work here at Santa Monica Bay is a way to give back to a city that plays such an important role in our global network.”
About Korean Air
Korean Air has been connecting the world for more than 55 years, transporting over 23 million passengers in 2024 alone. With its global hub at Incheon International Airport (ICN), the airline serves 116 cities across 40 countries on five continents, operating a fleet of 161 modern aircraft and supported by over 20,000 employees.
Korean Air is a founding member of the SkyTeam alliance and continues to grow as one of the leading transpacific carriers through its joint venture with Delta Air Lines.
For more information, visit www.koreanair.com, the Korean Air Newsroom, or follow @KoreanAirworld on Instagram and @KoreanAir_KE on Twitter.
About the Korean Air and Delta Joint Venture
Celebrating six years of partnership, the Korean Air and Delta joint venture has served more than 9 million travelers since its launch in May 2018.
Together, the airlines operate up to 18 daily peak-season flights between Seoul-Incheon and the United States, connecting more than 290 destinations across the Americas and over 80 in Asia. Each day, over 4,000 passengers connect between the two carriers via Incheon—a figure that’s grown by more than 40% since the joint venture began.
Korean Air and Delta continue to enhance the travel experience through coordinated flight schedules, reciprocal loyalty benefits, and seamless check-in services across their networks.
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