Korean Air stock gains 8.84 percent as targets rise

Korean Air stock (ISIN KR7003490000) closed at KRW 31,400 on the Korea Exchange on September 22, 2026, up 8.84 percent from KRW 28,850 and matching its 52-week high. The move came as airline shares responded to lower oil prices, firm passenger demand and expectations for stronger third-quarter earnings.

Target price rises to KRW 42,000

According to Aju Press on September 23, 2026, KB Securities kept its Buy rating and raised its Korean Air target price by 5 percent from KRW 40,000 to KRW 42,000. The brokerage cited higher passenger fares and improving profitability at Asiana Airlines, making the target increase a quantified comparison with the previous estimate.

The gap between the September 22 closing price of KRW 31,400 and KB Securities' new target of KRW 42,000 is KRW 10,600. KB Securities also projected 2026 consolidated operating profit of KRW 1.1 trillion, down 5 percent year over year, while forecasting KRW 2.7 trillion for 2027, according to Aju News on September 23, 2026.

Third quarter estimates point higher

Hana Securities maintained a Buy rating and a KRW 41,000 target price on September 23, 2026, while forecasting third-quarter standalone revenue of KRW 5.152 trillion and operating profit of KRW 497.6 billion. The estimates represent year-over-year increases of 29 percent and 32 percent, respectively, according to Newsis.

Hana Securities also estimated a third-quarter operating margin of 9.7 percent, 0.3 percentage points above the prior-year level. Its forecast for standalone net profit was KRW 764 billion, supported by passenger and cargo fares, although higher oil assumptions and one-off costs linked to the approaching integration could reduce fourth-quarter operating profit by 11 percent year over year to KRW 366 billion.

Stock reaches its yearly high

The September 22 market snapshot recorded a 52-week range of KRW 21,000 to KRW 31,400, market capitalization of KRW 11.5621 trillion and volume of 6,804,693 shares. The closing price therefore stood at the top of the reported yearly range, while the 8.84 percent daily gain followed a prior close of KRW 28,850.

For investors, the central tension is visible in the forecasts: 2026 operating profit is expected to decline 5 percent, while the 2027 estimate of KRW 2.7 trillion implies a sharp recovery. The thesis depends on fare strength, cargo pricing and the operating improvement expected from the Asiana combination, while fuel costs and integration expenses remain material variables.

Korean Air stock closes at KRW 31,400

Korean Air stock closed at KRW 31,400 on the Korea Exchange on September 22, 2026, with a daily gain of 8.84 percent. The price was equal to the reported 52-week high of KRW 31,400.

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