Merger Update: Korean Air Delays A380 Retirement to Meet Passenger Demand
Korean Air and Asiana Airlines are moving forward with their merger plans, which include retiring their Airbus A380 and Boeing 747 fleets by 2026. Despite the timeline, Korean Air has sent several A380s for maintenance, signaling a potential delay as passenger demand surges and new aircraft deliveries face setbacks. The combined airline will operate 13 A380s, maintaining their presence on key international routes.
Korean Air is preparing to merge with Asiana Airlines. As part of this process, both companies plan to retire their fleets of quad-engine aircraft, including the Boeing 747 and Airbus A380, by 2026. Reports from the media outlet Incheon Today indicate that Korean Air has sent several Airbus A380's to Lufthansa Technik facilities in Manila, Philippines, for a D-check (comprehensive maintenance).
This move could suggest a delay in retiring the superjumbo from the fleet, driven by increased passenger demand and ongoing delays in the delivery of new aircraft. Additionally, some modernization of seats on the A380s has been observed. Korean Air introduced the A380 in 2011 but decided to retire the aircraft by 2026 due to its low fuel efficiency and the challenges of filling its large capacity.
The airline is now reassessing its operational strategy for the A380. Ticket sales in North America, Europe, and Oceania contributed 59% of Korean Air's total revenue in the third quarter of 2024, compared to 54% in the same pre-pandemic period of 2019. This growth highlights the importance of these markets in the airline’s overall performance.
According to the website Planespotters, Korean Air currently operates seven A380's out of an original fleet of ten, with the other three units already retired. Asiana Airlines, on the other hand, continues to operate its fleet of six A380s. After the merger, the combined fleet will include a total of 13 A380s.
Korean Air deploys its A380's on major international routes connecting Seoul with New York and Los Angeles. Asiana Airlines operates its A380s on routes to Bangkok, Los Angeles, Tokyo, Sydney, and Taipei, ensuring continued use of the superjumbo across key global destinations.
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