News
Asiana returns to profit, orders 25 A321s
February 16th 2015
South Korea’s second international carrier, Asiana Airlines, has announced a $2.83 billion order for 25 A321neo aircraft. Read More » The aircraft will be delivered from 2019 and will replace the Incheon-based airline’s A321s on short- and medium-range services. It also has four A380s and 30 A350s on order.
Unlike rival Korean Air, Asiana Airlines was profitable in 2014, posting an operating profit of 98.1 billion won ($89 million), a reversal of a 11.2 billion loss in 2013. The carrier said it benefitted from a 42% jump in Chinese tourists travelling to South Korea and beyond in 2014 as well as from a significant increase in Koreans visiting neighbouring Japan on the back of a cheaper Japanese yen.
Asiana said it was satisfied with the performance of Air Busan, its 46%-owned LCC based in South Korea’s second largest city, without giving details. It plans a second, majority-owned and yet-unnamed Seoul-based LCC in 2015, with the maiden flight scheduled for 2016.
