Korean Air confirmed it plans to purchase 33 A350 wide-body aircraft from Airbus at a cost of $13.7 billion, in an ongoing effort at modernizing its carrier fleet. The order will include 27 A350-1000 jets, the largest variant of the series, and seven of the A350-900 model.
The airline did not detail the delivery schedule for the new jets.
The A350-1000 carries 350 to 410 passengers in a three-class arrangement. The A350-900 seats 300-350 passengers. Both models will be in service on Korean Air’s longest intercontinental routes, such as the twice-daily Seoul-New York route.
In addition to the 33 A350s, Korean Air will add 50 Airbus A321neos, 10 Boeing 787-9s, 20 Boeing 787-10s, and 30 Boeing 737 MAX 8s as it proceeds with its fleet modernization and carbon reduction efforts.
A statement by the airline noted that the “eco-friendly A350” supports Korean Air’s sustainability efforts while preparing for its planned combination with Asiana Airlines. The government of South Korea announced its intention to merge the two carriers in late 2020, but the proposition has been slow to gain the endorsement of various regulatory agencies around the world. As yet, the U.S. Federal Aviation Administration has not given its approval to the merger.
