(March 12) -- Korean Air has received the prestigious 'Mercury Award' from the International Travel Catering Association (ITCA) for its "Letter to Mom" service for unaccompanied minors and their families.

Korean Air's "Letter to Mom" provides closer personal service for unaccompanied children and reassures parents that their children were well taken care of. For flights of five hours or more, a cabin attendant is assigned to record each child's meal choices, mood and behaviour during the flight in a letter delivered to the parents or guardians waiting at the arrival airport. Since inception in 2002 parents' responses has been extraordinary. Thousands have been happily surprised and comforted when they received their "Letter to Mom." Last year, 17,000 families received this service.

This is the third time that Korean Air has received the Mercury Award. It first won in 1998 for Bibimbap, an assorted vegetable and rice mixture, and then again in 2006 for Bibimguksoo, spicy Korean noodles.

Awarded at the annual ITCA Conference and Tradeshow in Cologne, Germany, the Mercury Awards are acknowledged worldwide as "the original and ultimate recognition of products and services which bring innovation, quality and added value to the industry," according to its organizers. Companies from diverse fields aim to win the prestigious award based on the innovative ideas and service developments to improve the international catering industry for the ultimate convenience of the traveller.

About Korean Air:
Korean Air was named the Best First/Business Class Airline and the Best Frequent Flyer Program in TIME Readers' Travel Choice Awards 2006. It was voted Best Asia/Transpacific Business Class Service by Business Traveller magazine in 2006. With its excellent financial performance in 2005, Korean Air received the "Phoenix Award" from Air Transport World (ATW) for its success in overcoming challenges in the global airline industry.

Korean Air, with a fleet of 122 aircraft, is one of the world's top 20 airlines, and operates almost 400 passenger flights per day to 109 cities in 36 countries. It is a founding member of SkyTeam, the global airlines alliance - partnering Aeroflot, AeroMexico, Air France, Alitalia, CSA Czech Airlines, Continental Airlines, Delta Air Lines, KLM and Northwest Airlines to provide customers with extensive worldwide destinations, flights and services. More on Korean Air's programs, routes, frequency and partners is available at www.koreanair.com.