Airbus and Korean Air are marking their golden anniversary by celebrating 50 years of collaboration that began on September 5, 1974, when the South Korean flag carrier placed an order for six original A300B4s.
Since then, the “enduring partnership” has seen 95 aircraft change hands and Korean Air operate almost every single type of Airbus, including the A300B4, A300F4, A300-600R, A330-200, A330-300, A380, A220-300 and A321neo.
And the staunch relationship between the two aviation giants will continue long into the future, with current orders in place for 39 more single-aisle A321neos and 33 A350 jets, comprising 27 A350-1000s and six A350-900s.
“As our first customer from outside Europe, Korean Air played a significant role in establishing Airbus on the global market. Our enduring partnership is testament to shared values of innovation, technical excellence and customer satisfaction. And what better way to celebrate than with the new order for the A350! It’s going to play a key role in the next phase of Korean Air’s development as one of the world’s leading airlines,” said Christian Scherer, Airbus CEO of Commercial Aircraft.
Celebrating 50 years of partnership with @Koreanair_Ke!
— Airbus (@Airbus) September 5, 2024
From the first order for 6 A300B4 in 1974 to the latest for 33 #A350, we thank Korean Air for its trust and look forward to continue supporting one of the world's top ranked airlines for many more years to come. ✈️ pic.twitter.com/QAELxBnFFZ
Scherer added: “We thank Korean Air for its long-standing and ongoing confidence in Airbus and its products and look forward to continuing our journey together, shaping the future of aviation.”
Korean Air’s order in September 1974, marked Airbus’ third and the first from outside Europe, with Air France and Iberia the original two airlines.
The two companies’ relationship extends further than operations with Korean Air Aerospace Business Division (KAL-ASD) positioned as an Airbus supplier.
Today, KAL-ASD produces composite cargo doors for the A350, fuel-saving Sharklet wingtip devices for the A320 family and the latest generation A330neo, as well as fuselage skin panels for the A330.
“Our half-century journey with Airbus is a testament to the power of collaboration in the aviation industry,” said Walter Cho, Korean Air Chairman and CEO. “As a first customer outside Europe, we took a bold step that helped establish Airbus as a global leader in aviation. In turn, Airbus has consistently provided us with cutting-edge aircraft that have been instrumental in our evolution into a leading global airline. From the first A300 to our recent order of the A350, we’ve consistently chosen Airbus as a partner in our mission to connect the world.”