Korean Air Extends Lifespan of A380 and B747 Amid Delivery Delays
Korean Air has decided to extend the operation of its Airbus A380 and Boeing 747-8 aircraft due to delays in the delivery of new planes. Walter Cho, CEO of the airline, announced that the company is facing a shortage of approximately 20 aircraft from each manufacturer, which has necessitated a reevaluation of its fleet strategy.
Original Plan and New Timelines for Retirement
Initially, Korean Air planned to retire its A380s by 2026 and the B747-8s in the early 2030s. However, these timelines are now contingent on the arrival of the replacement aircraft. Additionally, the airline is also looking to phase out its older Boeing 777s.
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Current Fleet of Four-Engine Passenger Aircraft at Korean Air and Asiana Airlines
Korean Air operates seven A380s and six B747-8s, with an average age of 11.3 and 8.7 years, respectively. Asiana Airlines, recently acquired by Korean Air, has another six A380s with an average age of 10 years.
New Additions to the Fleet
To modernize its operations, Korean Air expects to receive:
- 41 Airbus A321s
- 4 Airbus A350-900s
- 27 Airbus A350-1000s
- 19 Boeing 737-8s
- 14 Boeing 737-10s
- 6 Boeing 787-9s
Meanwhile, Asiana Airlines has pending deliveries of:
- 12 Airbus A321s
- 15 Airbus A350-900s
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