Global Mobility/Transport, Equity Long-Short

Mohshin Aziz

Equity Bottom-Up

<ul>
<li>
<a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/korean-air-lines-co-ltd" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:11048:1" rel="noopener">Korean Air Lines (003490 KS)</a> is cheap, against peers and its own history. The impending merger with Asiana Airline is a major overhang  </li>
<li>Business is good, with steady passenger loads and yields, and cargo showing decent signs of recovery. Lower fuel prices could surprise on the upside </li>
<li>Target Price KRW23,868 based on FY24 P/BV of 0.81x (1SD below mean). Too little upside for the level of uncertainty. PASS   </li>
</ul>



Korean Air Lines (003490 KS) is cheap, against peers and its own history. The impending merger with Asiana Airline is a major overhang  
Business is good, with steady passenger loads and yields, and cargo showing decent signs of recovery. Lower fuel prices could surprise on the upside 
Target Price KRW23,868 based on FY24 P/BV of 0.81x (1SD below mean). Too little upside for the level of uncertainty. PASS   


Korean Air (003490 KS): Cheap, but a Value Trap

Founder & Managing Director, AIR Control Tower, AIR Control Tower

Neil Glynn

Founder & Managing Director, AIR Control Tower

AIR Control Tower

AIR Control Tower is an independent research and analysis platform. Its mission is to provide impactful insight and analysis across the global airline industry at a company and market level via detailed financial models to aid decision making for key stake holders at a time when risks have seldom, if ever, been higher and the global sector grapples with the imperative of funding de-carbonisation. Unique analysis forecasting global carrier-level earnings/cash flows, and restructuring/de-leveraging prospects, is designed to dynamically assess the health of the industry, predict surprises and identify potential requirements for third party support.

Insights on the global airline industry

<ul>
<li>We publish a detailed update on the APAC airline sector, featuring ANA, Cathay Pacific, JAL, Korean Air, Qantas and Singapore Airlines, addressing cargo yield normalisation, and unit cost inflation.</li>
<li>We see 24% upside to consensus EBITDAR for JAL in FY24 to March 2024, and 24% downside risk at Singapore Airlines based on our detailed analysis and quarterly earnings bridges.</li>
<li>We expect earnings at most carriers to decline in calendar 2024 versus 2023 as the combination of cargo yield normalisation, fuel price pressure, and further capacity restoration prompt margin declines.</li>
</ul>


We publish a detailed update on the APAC airline sector, featuring ANA, Cathay Pacific, JAL, Korean Air, Qantas and Singapore Airlines, addressing cargo yield normalisation, and unit cost inflation.
We see 24% upside to consensus EBITDAR for JAL in FY24 to March 2024, and 24% downside risk at Singapore Airlines based on our detailed analysis and quarterly earnings bridges.
We expect earnings at most carriers to decline in calendar 2024 versus 2023 as the combination of cargo yield normalisation, fuel price pressure, and further capacity restoration prompt margin declines.


APAC Airline Sector – Cost Inflation Management Differentials Crucial as Cargo Yields Normalise

Thematic (Sector/Industry)

<ul>
<li>In aggregate, traffic among the Big-3 Chinese airlines was up 67% YoY in February and +18% vs 2019. Incontestable proof that China has regained its air travel mojo. </li>
<li>Published March schedules show total implied capacity is 31% higher YoY and 9% higher than 2019 levels. This is driven by domestic travel, international remains depressed. </li>
<li>Driven by domestic travel, international remains depressed. POSITIVE for China Eastern and other North Asian carriers that provide the missing North America link. </li>
</ul>


In aggregate, traffic among the Big-3 Chinese airlines was up 67% YoY in February and +18% vs 2019. Incontestable proof that China has regained its air travel mojo. 
Published March schedules show total implied capacity is 31% higher YoY and 9% higher than 2019 levels. This is driven by domestic travel, international remains depressed. 
Driven by domestic travel, international remains depressed. POSITIVE for China Eastern and other North Asian carriers that provide the missing North America link. 


China BIG-3 Mainland Airlines Traffic 18% Higher than 2019!

Asian Equities Analyst, Logistics & Transport, Tracking Traffic

Daniel Hellberg

Asian Equities Analyst, Logistics & Transport

Tracking Traffic

Focusing on Asian logistics, transportation, and travel companies

<ul>
<li>China's outbound tourism recovery started much later than others in the region</li>
<li>In particular, Taiwan &amp; Korea began ramping outbound travel earlier (in Q222)</li>
<li>As destinations, Thailand &amp; Vietnam recovered early, but now lag HK's growth</li>
</ul>


China's outbound tourism recovery started much later than others in the region
In particular, Taiwan &amp; Korea began ramping outbound travel earlier (in Q222)
As destinations, Thailand &amp; Vietnam recovered early, but now lag HK's growth


China's Tourism Recovery Versus Other Major Tourist Sources in Asia: Delayed, Not Slower

<ul>
<li>Difficult for merger to receive approval in Europe, US and potentially Japan. But Korean Air financial recovery positions it well for the future.</li>
<li>Asiana vulnerable given it continues to struggle to make money, while its net debt is higher than 2019 revenues. South Korean precedent of focusing on one national champion in shipping.</li>
<li>Most M&amp;A destroys value. Strong argument for Korean continuing alone given stronger opportunities should Asiana be forced to retrench/cease ops, while Delta JV developmental potential attractive.</li>
</ul>


Difficult for merger to receive approval in Europe, US and potentially Japan. But Korean Air financial recovery positions it well for the future.
Asiana vulnerable given it continues to struggle to make money, while its net debt is higher than 2019 revenues. South Korean precedent of focusing on one national champion in shipping.
Most M&amp;A destroys value. Strong argument for Korean continuing alone given stronger opportunities should Asiana be forced to retrench/cease ops, while Delta JV developmental potential attractive.


Korean Air - Plan B Should Asiana Merger Fail to Gain Approval

South Korea

Korean Air Lines Co., Ltd. operates air transportation services.  The Company's services include passenger and cargo transportation, aircraft maintenance, and air catering.  Korean Air Lines provides domestic and international airline services.

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Korean Air Lines (003490 KS)

Korean Air (003490 KS): Cheap, but a Value Trap

Korean Air Lines is undervalued versus peers and own history due to merger overhang. Too much at stake in the hands of the regulators, which we...

Mohshin Aziz

APAC Airline Sector – Cost Inflation Management Differentials Crucial as Cargo Yields Normalise

Deep dive on earnings prospects of the top tier ex-China APAC full service carriers illustrates marked differences in inflation management, and...

Neil Glynn

China BIG-3 Mainland Airlines Traffic 18% Higher than 2019!

Chinese airlines see significant increase in traffic, with domestic travel driving growth while international remains depressed. China's air...

Mohshin Aziz

China's Tourism Recovery Versus Other Major Tourist Sources in Asia: Delayed, Not Slower

In this insight we compare China's progress toward restoring outbound tourism activity to the progress shown by other major tourist sources in the...

Tracking Traffic

Korean Air - Plan B Should Asiana Merger Fail to Gain Approval

Deep dive on prospects for Korean Air should it fail to achieve approval for planned Asiana merger. Global airline M&A perspective/organic...

Neil Glynn

Price Gauge

52-week Range

Market Cap (USDm)

P/E

Dividend (Yield)

Korean Air (003490 KS): Cheap, but a Value Trap

​Korean Air Lines is undervalued versus peers and own history due to merger overhang. Too much at stake in the hands of the regulators, which we...

Mohshin Aziz

APAC Airline Sector – Cost Inflation Management Differentials Crucial as Cargo Yields Normalise

Deep dive on earnings prospects of the top tier ex-China APAC full service carriers illustrates marked differences in inflation management, and...

Neil Glynn

China BIG-3 Mainland Airlines Traffic 18% Higher than 2019!

​Chinese airlines see significant increase in traffic, with domestic travel driving growth while international remains depressed. China's air...

Mohshin Aziz

China's Tourism Recovery Versus Other Major Tourist Sources in Asia: Delayed, Not Slower

In this insight we compare China's progress toward restoring outbound tourism activity to the progress shown by other major tourist sources in the...

Tracking Traffic

Korean Air - Plan B Should Asiana Merger Fail to Gain Approval

Deep dive on prospects for Korean Air should it fail to achieve approval for planned Asiana merger. Global airline M&A perspective/organic...

Neil Glynn

Korean Air Lines is undervalued versus peers and own history due to merger overhang. Too much at stake in the hands of the regulators, which we...

Chinese airlines see significant increase in traffic, with domestic travel driving growth while international remains depressed. China's air...