Synopsis
As of last year, South Korean airlines operate over 400 aircraft, marking a record high in the sector's history. The growth reflects strong recovery efforts following the pandemic, with plans for further expansion in the coming year.Key Takeaways
- South Korean airlines surpass 400 aircraft.
- Domestic airlines plan to add 54 new planes.
- Korean Air holds 39.7% of the fleet.
- Majority of aircraft are from Boeing.
- Asiana Airlines successfully integrated into Korean Air.
Seoul, Feb 2 (NationPress) The total number of aircraft owned and operated by South Korean carriers surpassed 400 last year, according to data released on Sunday, achieving the highest count since records began.
As of late last year, domestic airlines operated a combined total of 416 aircraft, which included 42 cargo planes, reflecting an increase of 23 from the previous year, based on data submitted to Rep. Lee Yeon-hee of the main opposition Democratic Party (DP).
This figure signifies the largest count of aircraft since the registration of private planes commenced in the country in 1977, as reported by the Yonhap news agency.
The total is anticipated to rise further this year, as domestic airlines plan to introduce 54 new aircraft while retiring 38 aged planes.
The number of registered planes has consistently increased, surpassing the 300 mark in 2015 and achieving a previous record of 414 in 2019, before experiencing a drop the following year due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
In terms of airline distribution, local market leader Korean Air held the largest share with 39.7 percent of the total, equating to 165 planes, followed by Asiana Airlines with 83 planes and Jeju Air with 41 planes, including one lost in a tragic crash that resulted in 179 fatalities on Dec. 29.
In terms of aircraft manufacturers, 62 percent, or 258 planes, were produced by Boeing, while 38 percent, or 158 planes, were made by Airbus.
In December, Korean Air, recognized as South Korea's largest airline, successfully integrated Asiana Airlines as a subsidiary, concluding a lengthy acquisition process.
Korean Air allocated 1.5 trillion won (approximately $1.04 billion) to acquire 131.57 million new shares issued by Asiana as part of the 1.8 trillion-won merger deal to take over the nation's second-largest full-service carrier.
