Korean Air is gearing up for a major aircraft order at the upcoming Farnborough Air Show, potentially purchasing 30 new planes. The airline is currently evaluating whether to opt for Boeing’s 787 or Airbus’s A350.
Korean Air chairman and CEO Cho Won-Tae indicated a preference for the Boeing 787 despite the challenges faced by the US manufacturer. “I believe in Boeing’s management. They will pull through. It might take some time,” he told Bloomberg. Earlier this year, the airline was also reportedly in talks to acquire at least ten Boeing 777X widebodies. In April, Korean Air placed an order for twenty-seven A350-1000s and six A350-900s.
Korean Air’s current fleet comprises 161 aircraft, including a mix of Airbus and Boeing models. The fleet includes ten A220-300s, ten A321neos, four A330-200s, twenty-one A330-300s, and nine A380-800s. The Boeing lineup features one 737-700(BBJ), five 737-MAX 8s, two 737-800s, ten 737-900s, six 737-900ERs, four 747-400ERFs, nine 747-8s, seven 747-8Fs, eight 777-200ERs, twelve 777-200Fs, four 777-300s, twenty-five 777-300ERs, one 787-8(BBJ), and thirteen 787-9s.
In addition, the airline has 113 aircraft on order, including forty A321neos, six A350-900s, twenty-seven A350-1000s, twenty-three Boeing 737 MAX 8s, seven 787-9s, and ten 787-10s.
Merger with Asiana Airlines
Korean Air is also making strides toward completing its merger with Asiana Airlines. Cho Won-Tae expects full approval from the US government by the end of October. The United States antitrust authority is the last of 14 jurisdictions to respond to the merger plan, which was first announced in 2021. “We have done everything the US and the EU have requested us to do,” Cho said.
The merger involves Korean Air acquiring a 63.9% stake in its long-time rival for KRW1.8 trillion won (USD1.32 billion). This acquisition will include taking over Asiana’s operations and discontinuing the Asiana brand. Additionally, Asiana is selling its cargo business, attracting interest from several companies, including Air Incheon, Jeju Air, Air Premia, and Eastar Jet. If approved, this merger will position Korean Air as the tenth-largest passenger carrier in the world.
With the potential aircraft order and the upcoming merger, Korean Air is set to enhance its operational capabilities and expand its market presence. The airline’s strategic decisions aim to strengthen its fleet and leverage new opportunities in the global aviation market.
First love never dies. I fell in love with airplanes and aviation when I was a kid. My dream was to become a pilot, but destiny led me to another path: to be an aviation digital media content creator and a small business owner. My passion for aviation inspires me to bring you quality content through my website and social accounts. Aviation is indeed in my blood and blog!
