Quantcast

Korean Air extends operation of older jets due to delivery delays

Korean Air extends operation of older jets due to delivery delays
Policy
Webp korean
Korean Air | Wikipedia

Korean Air is set to continue operating its Airbus A380 and Boeing 747-8 aircraft longer than initially planned due to delays in receiving new planes from manufacturers. The airline's CEO, Walter Cho, had aimed for a 2026 retirement of these aircraft but ongoing delivery issues have pushed back this timeline.

The fleet currently includes six Airbus A380s with an average age of 11.6 years and eighteen Boeing 747-8s averaging 11.9 years in service. In addition, the airline operates forty-six Boeing 777s with an average operational span of 12.3 years.

Walter Cho explained to Executive Traveler that Korean Air is waiting on deliveries from both Airbus and Boeing, specifically twenty aircraft from each manufacturer. After completing its merger with Asiana Airlines, Korean Air will incorporate eight more A380s into its fleet. It remains undecided whether these will be updated to match Korean Air's current interiors.

Get the Newsletter
Sign-up to receive weekly round up of news from Sky Industry News
By submitting, you agree to our Privacy Policy and Terms of Service. By providing your phone number you are opting in and consenting to receive recurring SMS/MMS messages, including automated texts, to that number from our short code. Msg & data rates may apply. Reply HELP for help, STOP to end. SMS opt-in will not be sold, rented, or shared.

The Airbus A380 has been notable for offering two bars for first and business class passengers as well as a duty-free boutique at the rear of the lower deck. Korean Air remains one of only three airlines still flying the Boeing 747-8 variant globally, alongside Air China and Lufthansa.

The airline manages over 160 aircraft across passenger, cargo, and business jet operations. Future expansions include orders for more than forty A321neo aircraft, four Airbus A350-900s, twenty-seven Airbus A350-1000s, along with other models from Boeing such as twenty-four 737 MAX 8s and thirty-one 787-10s expected by 2028.

A notable member of the fleet is HL7644 (serial number 60411), recognized as the last ever built Boeing 747-8I delivered in July 2017 with an eight-year service history.

Korean Air maintains a significant long-haul network supported by its hub at Incheon International Airport and extensive codeshare agreements with several airlines including Alaska Airlines and Delta Air Lines. Its direct services reach numerous global destinations spanning continents from Australia to North America.

Domestically within South Korea, data indicates that flights between Jeju and Seoul Gimpo are among the busiest routes worldwide surpassing fourteen million seats annually.

Organizations Included in this History
More News

Etihad Airways has announced the launch of a new route connecting Abu Dhabi and Addis Ababa.

Oct 27, 2025

United Airlines has unveiled its Summer 2026 schedule, which includes new flights from Newark to Bari, Split, Santiago de Compostela, and Glasgow, as well as from Newark to Seoul and Washington, D.C., to Reykjavik.

Oct 27, 2025

Ethiopian Airlines has announced a limited-time 20% discount on fares between Addis Ababa and Porto.

Oct 27, 2025

Avianca has announced that passengers are encouraged to register for the Biomig biometric migration system to avoid lines and delays at participating airports in Colombia.

Oct 27, 2025

Delta Air Lines has announced an upgrade to its mobile application, enhancing travel convenience ahead of the holiday season.

Oct 27, 2025

Los Angeles International Airport (LAX) has announced the closure of Terminal 5 to commence significant renovations aimed at enhancing the passenger experience.

Oct 27, 2025