Via airlinemaps:
The Korean Air Lines route map from a 1 July 1974 timetable. This is a fun map – it takes diagrammatic elements and mixes them with curves to create a pleasant aesthetic.
A key that includes the status of the Bangkok-Singapore route and what the destinations without routes indicate would be a good addition.
KAL operated 29 aircraft, including four 707s, three 727s, three 747s and four DC-8s, in July 1974, the Flight Fleets Analyzer shows.
We’ve featured a few transit diagram-style airline maps on the blog before, but this is one of the nicest looking that I’ve seen, even with the oddities noted above (Why show cities that no connections are offered to? Added geographical context? Reachable via partner airlines? It’s a mystery!).
There’s an almost calligraphic flow to the bold route lines which I find very pleasing, aided by generous curves at corners and the target-like circle around the network’s main hub at Seoul. Really quite lovely.