Korean Air has announced a strategic partnership with Skyports Infrastructure, a global leader in vertiport design and operation, to jointly develop a comprehensive platform for electric vertical takeoff and landing (eVTOL) aircraft operations. The collaboration was formalized through a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) signed at Drone Show Korea 2026, held at BEXCO in Busan.
The agreement brings together two proprietary technologies to create a seamless operational ecosystem. Korean Air will contribute its ACROSS (Air Control & Routing Orchestrated Skyway System), a sophisticated platform designed for flight operations and air traffic management in low-altitude environments. Skyports will integrate its VAS (Vertiport Automation System), which manages the complex functions of vertiport infrastructure.
By interlinking these systems, the partners aim to develop an integrated platform that oversees the complete passenger journey. This end-to-end solution will coordinate everything from vertiport check-in and security screening to boarding, flight departure, and arrival procedures. The unified approach is designed to ensure that air traffic control and ground operations work in perfect synchronization.
The two companies plan to validate their technology through joint demonstrations and pilot programs, focusing on regions identified as priority markets for the early commercialization of Advanced Air Mobility (AAM). Looking ahead, Korean Air and Skyports intend to offer scalable solutions to the broader AAM industry, positioning themselves as key players in the global market as urban air mobility networks expand.
“ACROSS is engineered to provide integrated flight control and air traffic management specifically for the low-altitude aviation landscape,” explained a representative from Korean Air. “Vertiports are the critical interface where air and ground operations meet. Our partnership with Skyports, a recognized global leader in this infrastructure space, represents a pivotal step toward building a safe, efficient, and reliable AAM ecosystem.”
Skyports is actively expanding its international footprint. The company is on track to commence commercial vertiport operations in Dubai in 2026, complementing ongoing infrastructure projects in Abu Dhabi. In a significant development for the U.S. market, Skyports is also leading the transformation of the Downtown Manhattan Heliport in New York City into a dedicated platform for future AAM services.
Korean Air’s ACROSS system, initially developed in 2024, offers comprehensive functionality for managing AAM fleet operations. It handles flight scheduling, route planning, maintenance tracking, real-time flight monitoring, and flight plan approval for a range of low-altitude aircraft, including eVTOLs, drones, and helicopters. As the first South Korean entity to receive official UAM traffic management demonstration status, Korean Air has already rigorously tested the system’s capabilities. This validation occurred during Phases 1 and 2 of the K-UAM Grand Challenge, a national program overseen by the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport (MOLIT).
