Quantcast

Korean Air extends operation of older jets due to delivery delays

Airline Stocks Led The Travel Industry's Record 2024 Rally. Here's What's Next.
It’s beginning to look like another record for holiday travel
Qatar Airways cleans up at the World Travel Awards
Qantas engineers walk off job on one of the busiest travel days of the year
South Korea to safeguard competition after Korean Air, Asiana merger
China Southern returns to Adelaide
Global Airline Industry Revenues Forecast To Top $1 Trillion For First Time In 2025
EasyJet to launch six new routes from the UK next year with £24 flights
Here's Why Analysts Say It's a Good Time to Buy Airline Stocks
A No-Frills Airline Is Getting Into the Premium Game
TAKING OFF: Major airline introduces new inflight service rules with less time to order your drinks
2 Delta flight attendants fail breathalyzer test before flight to JFK
EasyJet reveals plans for new flights from regional UK airport next summer
Airlines not switching quickly enough to green jet fuel, study says
Alaska Airlines tech issue briefly grounds planes in Seattle, disrupts bookings on Cyber Monday
US Senate panel criticizes rising airline seat fees, will call execs to testify
Spirit’s Demise Is a Lesson in ‘Airline-o-nomics’
Inside BA’s new first-class suites: £800 an hour for most private seat
Focus: US airline flight crews confident and angry as unions seek richer contracts
Hawaiian Airlines Eliminates Widebody Route Amid Alaska Airlines Merger
US budget airlines are struggling. Will pursuing premium passengers solve their problems?
Delta CEO says the Trump administration will reverse government ‘overreach’ seen under Biden
Spirit Airlines files for bankruptcy: How will it affect your travel plans?
British Airways yet to identify cause of latest IT meltdown
Delta Airlines Will Start Serving Shake Shack Cheeseburgers Next Month
United Sees Nearly 30% Surge in Travel to European Christmas Markets
Budget airline Israir to launch flights between Israel and NY, ending wartime monopoly by flagship carrier El Al
Asia's airlines blame supply chain woes for disrupted operations
Qantas and Qatar Airways: Planned partnership in the Australian aviation industry under the microscope
Spirit Airlines delays release of Q3 financial results as debt restructuring talks heat up
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

The International Air Transport Association (IATA) has announced that its Wings of Change Europe (WOCE) event will take place at the Steigenberger Icon Wiltcher's Hotel in Brussels.

Oct 23, 2025

Delta Air Lines has announced a new partnership with Crunchyroll, the global anime streaming platform, to bring a curated selection of anime content to its flights.

Oct 23, 2025

Delta Air Lines has been recognized as one of the 2025 Fortune Best Workplaces for Women, marking its return to the list since 2019.

Oct 23, 2025

Delta Air Lines marked its 100th anniversary by serving as the official airline of the 60th Head of the Charles Regatta (HOCR) in Boston.

Oct 23, 2025

American Airlines has announced that it will upgrade its Boeing 777-200ER aircraft with new Flagship Suites, the airline's latest business-class product.

Oct 23, 2025

Delta Air Lines will introduce a new in-flight dining partnership with Chef José Andrés, bringing Spanish-inspired cuisine to select cabins starting November 4.

Oct 23, 2025