On Oct. 30, KLM Royal Dutch Airlines (KLM) hosted a special event and lecture in Korea Aerospace University’s (KAU) lecture hall to commemorate its 40th anniversary of service to Korea. As part of a series of events celebrating the 40th anniversary of its direct route to Korea on Oct. 31, KLM visited KAU to personally encourage future aviation professionals, while holding various events for Korean customers.

The event featured Boris Darceaux, Regional President for Korea, Japan, and New Caledonia, and Moon-jung Lee, President of Air France-KLM Korea, who spent the afternoon with students, engaging in discussions about the present and future of the aviation industry with their Air France-KLM Korea colleagues. Lee Dong-myung, KAU’s Dean of the College of Aviation & Management, and Park Jin-woo, Dean of the School of Open Major and Global Aviation Studies, along with faculty from the Department of Aviation Management and the School of Open Major and Global Aviation Studies, extended a warm welcome to the Air France-KLM representatives. Over 200 students, including those from the Department of Aviation Management, participated in the event.

 During a special lecture titled Last 40 Years and Next 40 Years of KLM in Korea, Darceaux presented Air France-KLM’s vision and achievements in the Korean market, sharing experiences and insights as a leader of a global airline with KAU students, who are set to become the future leaders of the aviation industry. The students filled the hall with barely any space and remained engaged during the Q&A session, asking the Air France-KLM team profound questions about the future of the global aviation industry and their individual career paths. “Thanks to this event, I now have a clearer understanding of how to prepare for a career towards a global airline,” commented one participating student, expressing the hope for more similar opportunities in the future.

After the lecture, Air France-KLM hosted a special event in the outdoor area in front of the lecture hall. Celebrating 40 years of service to Korea, Air France-KLM provided a coffee truck, offering students a refreshing break on campus. In particular, Air France-KLM, which operates the Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF) Program to promote eco-friendly flights, provided free coffee to students who brought personal tumblers, encouraging environmental awareness and sustainability practices in daily life.

Faculty members from the Department of Aviation Management, who co-hosted the event with Air France-KLM, stated, “It was a meaningful day to host a joint event with Air France-KLM, a global airline connecting Korea and Europe, on behalf of Korea’s aviation universities.” They added, “We will continue to offer diverse opportunities for students to grow into global talents who will lead the future aviation industry.”