Brand New Aircraft
Korean Air and Asiana Airlines are set to strengthen their competitiveness by introducing state-of-the-art next-generation aircraft.
According to an industry source on Feb. 11, Asiana Airlines will start using 25 units of the Airbus A321-200 NEO. Asiana Airlines is currently running 33 units of the A321/A320, but is going to replace the A321-200 with the A321 NEO by 2019. In addition, it is planning to purchase six A380s by 2016 and 30 A350s between 2017 and 2025.
In the meantime, Korean Air will bring in 10 B737-8is between this year and 2017 and 10 B787-9s from 2016. Also, it will purchase 10 more A380s for long-distance flights.
Low-cost carriers are increasing their investment in aircraft, too. For instance, Jeju Air is planning to increase the number of its planes from 17 to 21 until the end of this year, and Jin Air is purchasing six more planes, including two B777-200ERs. Air Busan will put two A321-200s into operation this year.