Rep. Lee Yeon-hee of the Democratic Party, a member of the National Assembly’s Land, Infrastructure and Transport Committee, said Feb. 18 that figures provided via the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport by 12 South Korean carriers showed they held a total of 441 aircraft at year’s end: 401 passenger planes and 40 freighters.
That was up 25 aircraft from a year earlier (416). Passenger planes increased by 27, while freighters fell by two.
The combined fleet stood at 414 aircraft in 2019, then dropped to 366 in 2021 during the COVID-19 pandemic. It has climbed since, reaching 370 in 2022 and 393 in 2023, as passenger demand recovered and newer airlines expanded.
By carrier, Korean Air had 167 aircraft at the end of last year — 144 passenger planes and 23 freighters — up two from a year earlier. Its fleet included 45 Boeing 777s, 27 Boeing 787s, 24 Boeing 737s and 19 Airbus A321s.
Asiana Airlines, which is preparing to merge with Korean Air, operated 68 passenger aircraft, down 15 from the previous year. Asiana sold its cargo business unit in August to cargo-only carrier Air Zeta (formerly Air Incheon).
Among low-cost carriers, T’way Air had the largest passenger fleet with 46 aircraft, up eight, helped by the introduction of Boeing’s next-generation 737-8.
Jeju Air followed with 45 aircraft — 43 passenger planes and two freighters — up four. The airline has not sharply expanded its fleet as it focuses on modernization after a passenger-plane accident.
Hanjin Group’s three low-cost carriers — Jin Air, Air Busan and Air Seoul — maintained their fleet sizes at 31, 21 and six passenger aircraft, respectively.
Eastar Jet expanded to 20 passenger planes after adding five 737-8s last year. Air Zeta held 15 freighters after adding 11 aircraft transferred from Asiana, including 10 Boeing 747s and one Boeing 767.
Aero K and Air Premia each had nine passenger aircraft, up three apiece. Parata Air, a new airline that began flying in September, operated four aircraft.
The data also showed 67 aircraft — 15.2% of the total — were more than 20 years old and classified as aging aircraft subject to special oversight by the transport ministry. Those aircraft were operated by Korean Air (28), Air Zeta (15), Jin Air (8), Jeju Air (6), Asiana (5), Aero K (3) and Air Busan (2).
Airlines are bringing in newer aircraft and retiring older planes to reduce safety concerns and improve passenger satisfaction and fuel efficiency. They reported to the ministry plans to add 55 aircraft this year and dispose of 32, including aging planes.
* This article has been translated by AI.
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