Korean Air will partner with Swedish flight tracking company Wingbits to enhance research in sustainable air travel, autonomous aviation, and Advanced Air Mobility (AAM). Through its R&D Center, the Seoul-based carrier will gain access to real-time flight-tracking data spanning three continents.
The partnership, which was announced on September 23, will allow Korean Air to integrate Wingbits’ data into its R&D activities. The airline will leverage Wingbits’ incentive-based network that tracks 150,000 daily flights using over 4,500 global contributors. Korean Air continues to enhance collaboration in various fields to maximize efficiency in its operations.
Leading Research In Advanced Air Mobility
Korean’s partnership with Wingbits will support the development, research, and testing of ACROSS (Air Control and Routing Orchestrated Skyway System), the airline’s in-house Integrated Air Traffic Control and Routing Coordination System. Korean Air’s R&D center will gain access to real-time flight-tracking data to advance airspace integration research for Advanced Air Mobility.
The agreement will also contribute to Korean Air’s research into urban air mobility technologies and unmanned aircraft, highlighting the carrier’s commitment to the development of new aviation technology. Korean Air will receive high-quality, real-time ADS-B data covering the Incheon Flight Information Region, and portions of North America and Europe.
Wingbits aims to create a safer, more secure system for aviation data to support the air transport industry. Korean Air’s R&D Center will continue to strengthen the foundation of next-generation air mobility solutions, focusing on safety, efficiency, and innovation. KwangOh Moon, Principal Researcher, AAM, Korean Air R&D Center, said:
“Precise, secure, real-time data is foundational to our work. We chose to cooperate with Wingibits to integrate their data network into our R&D activities, specifically to enhance the global capabilities of our ACROSS platform. This collaboration will help us produce world-class outcomes in airspace integration research, and we look forward to our mutual success.”
Supporting Korea’s Research And Development
Wingbits’ data will support the next phase of ACROSS development, testing, and operational surveillance for R&D activities. The company’s flight tracking network rewards contributors for transmitting ADS-B data using encrypted hardware, designed to be highly accurate, secure, and reliable. The partnership represents a significant step forward in the research and development of flight tracking, with the two companies shaping the future of air mobility and integrated airspace management.
The collaboration also highlights the importance of high-quality surveillance data in advancing airspace research. Through its partnership with Korean Air, Wingbits will move forward with its mission to promote more rigorous and extensive practices in aircraft tracking. The agreement represents a significant milestone for the company.
Founded in 2023, Wingbits is the first incentive-based aircraft tracking network, rewarding users for the quality data they contribute. Within its first year, the Stockholm-based company achieved 80% global coverage with over 4,500 active stations. Wingbits tracks 150,000 flights daily and is expanding global coverage across North America, Europe, Asia-Pacific, the Middle East, and Africa.
Developing Next-Generation Aircraft Platforms
With its hub at Incheon International Airport (ICN), Korean Air operates over 700 weekly flights from Seoul to more than 90 destinations in Asia-Pacific, Europe, and North America. The airline currently has a fleet of 165 aircraft comprising various Airbus and Boeing models. It is set to significantly grow its fleet, having placed a record order with Boeing having placed a record order with Boeing.
The R&D Center is part of Korean Air’s Aerospace division, conducting research in diverse fields such as unmanned aerial vehicles, satellite structure design, military aircraft, and maintenance, repair and overhaul (MRO) activities, among others. Korean Air recently established a partnership with Boeing to enhance its predictive maintenance capabilities in order to keep aircraft flying for longer.