SOUTH Korea’s national carrier Korean Air today signed more than US$12 billion worth of MoUs for Airbus and Boeing aircraft at the Paris Air Show in plans to renew its fleet with more fuel-efficient vehicles.
The airline is set to receive 50 Boeing 737 MAX-8, with 30 being firm orders with an option for another 20 and two B777-300ER Extended Range jetliners.
Fifty Airbus A321neo planes – 30 firm orders and a further option for 20 more – that Korean Air has on order will be powered by Pratt & Whitney’s PurePower PW1100G engines.
The new purchases total some US$12.2 billion based on current list prices and is the largest order the airline has ever made. Korean Air will begin to take delivery of the aircraft from 2019.
Korean Air plans to replace its B737 fleet and increase capacity to address growing demand.
It is also set to introduce the B747-8i and B787-9 over the next few years.
