Korean Air confirmed on March 21, 2024, that it has signed an order for 33 new Airbus A350 family widebody aircraft. The deal, which had already been widely anticipated in the industry, is valued at $13.7 billion and will comprise 27 A350-1000s and six A350-900s.
The new A350s will renew and supplement the airline’s existing fleet, with the larger A350-1000s becoming the backbone of Korean Air’s long-haul operations. The smaller A350-900s will be deployed primarily on the twice-daily Seoul (ICN) to New York-JFK route.
Although Korean Air does not currently operate the A350, it is currently in the process of integrating with its former competitor Asiana Airlines, which does operate a fleet of 15 A350-900s. Asiana also had six additional A350-900s and nine A350-1000s on order.
The new deal is part of a broader fleet renewal plan that will see Korean Air adding up to 110 additional new aircraft in the coming years. In addition to the A350s, the Korean flag carrier will also receive 50 Airbus A321neos, as well as 10 Boeing 787-9s, 20 Boeing 787-10s, and 30 Boeing 737-8s.
In March 2024, Korean Air announced a significant expansion of its international flight program, with the resumption of several routes to Europe, China, and Southeast Asia, all of which the airline had operated prior to the pandemic.