The number of aircraft operated by South Korean airlines hit an all-time high last year, surpassing 400, with around 50 new aircraft expected to be added to the country's aviation sector, data showed Sunday.
According to data from the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport, submitted to Democratic Party of Korea Rep. Lee Yeon-hee, a total of 12 Korean airlines operated 416 aircraft as of the end of last year -- 374 passenger planes and 42 cargo aircraft.
This figure marks an increase of 23 aircraft from the 393 recorded in 2023, setting a new record since the first registration of civil aircraft in 1977.
Korean Air operated the largest fleet with 165 aircraft, making up 39.7 percent of the total, followed by Asiana Airlines with 83 aircraft. Jeju Air operated 41 aircraft, including the Boeing 737-800 that crashed at Muan International Airport last December.
T’way Air had 38 aircraft, while Jin Air managed a fleet of 31. Air Busan, which operated 22 aircraft, lost one of its Airbus A321-200 aircraft in an incident last Tuesday, when the plane caught fire before takeoff at Gimhae International Airport in Busan.
Eastar Jet operated 15 planes, while Air Seoul, Aero K and Air Premia each managed six. Air Incheon, the only airline dedicated to cargo operations, operated four aircraft. Meanwhile, Parata Air, formerly known as Fly Gangwon, did not have any aircraft in service.
Boeing remained the dominant aircraft manufacturer in the Korean market, supplying 258 planes -- 62 percent of the total fleet -- while Airbus accounted for 158 aircraft, making up 38 percent.
The airline fleet in Korea has seen steady growth over the years, despite periodic fluctuations. The fleet surpassed 300 in 2015, reaching 414 in 2019 before dropping to 389 in 2020 and further declining to 366 in 2021 due to COVID-19. The industry rebounded with 370 aircraft in 2022.
Korean airlines plan to add 54 new aircraft this year while retiring 38 aging planes, bringing the total fleet size to 432. Currently, 63 aircraft are over 20 years old and are subject to special management protocols, according to the Transport Ministry.
minmin@heraldcorp.com
