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Korean Air eyes B777X, more B787s and A350s
October 26th 2018
Speaking at the Association of Asia Pacific Airlines Assembly of Presidents in Jeju last week, Korean Air president and COO, Walter Cho, admitted the airline was operating too many aircraft types and should consider its next orders wisely. Read More »
Cho said Korean Air was considering B787s, B777Xs, Boeing's NMA (new mid-size aircraft) and the A350 program as possible contenders to replace its fleet of 14 older B777-200ERs and four B777-300s. Korean Air operates eight B787-9s and has two more of the type on firm order as well as ten options.
“We have too many fleet types. Consolidating in one large order will help reduce maintenance costs and pilot training,” Cho said.
“There is a very high possibility we will expand our fleet on the 787. The 777X would be a good replacement for our current 777 generation and we are also keeping in mind the A350 as well."
Walter Cho is the son of Korean Air chairman, Cho Yang-ho. The elder Cho was indicted on charges of embezzlement and breach of trust earlier this month.
Cho junior said in Jeju that the airline faced a shortage of narrow body aircraft. This will be remedied with the delivery of more A220-300s, which Cho said have been performing "extremely well", as well as 30 A321neo and 30 B737 MAX 8s from 2020.
The A321neo will allow the airline to replace wide body aircraft on routes from South Korea to Delhi and Bangkok, he said. The airline operates 29 A330s, 10 A380s, 13 B747s, 42 B777s, eight B787s, 33 B737NGs and eight A220-300s n.
