South Korea’s Asiana Airlines is retiring older aircraft and integrating newer models into its fleet. The airline aims to streamline its fleet composition and enhance fuel efficiency to improve profitability.
On Mar. 7, it was announced that Asiana Airlines’ B747-400 passenger jet would make its final flight on the Incheon-Taipei route on Mar. 25. This aircraft, constructed in May 1998 and introduced into Asiana’s fleet in 1999, is currently completing its 26th year of service.
The B747-400, affectionately known as the ‘Jumbo jet,’ has a capacity of 359 passengers. Until the early 2010s, it was a workhorse for many of the world’s leading airlines. However, it has been largely phased out or converted into cargo planes. Among Korean carriers, Asiana is the only operator of this model for passenger service.
Additionally, Asiana utilizes the B767-300s, first introduced in 1999, for flights between Gimpo and Jeju. There are plans to eventually retire these aircraft, though a specific timeline has yet to be established. An Asiana official said, “The schedule for the retirement has yet to be finalized.”
Asiana is adopting Airbus’s newest models to replace retiring aircraft, including the A321-200NEO and A350-900. Over the past seven years, from 2017 to the previous year, the airline added 24 new aircraft to its fleet, comprising nine A321-200NEOs and fifteen A350-900s.
The A321-200NEO is designed as a narrow-body (single-aisle) aircraft with a seating capacity of either 188 or 180, depending on the configuration. It boasts a maximum flight duration of 7-8 hours, making it ideal for short-haul flights. Compared to the original first-generation A321s, the NEO variant is approximately 15% more fuel-efficient.
Asiana’s affiliate, Air Busan, also operates seven A321-200NEO aircraft. Moreover, Korean Air announced in October 2022 its plan to incorporate 50 A321-200NEOs into its fleet.
The A350-900, another Airbus model, is a wide-body (two-aisle) aircraft with 311 seats. It can take flights lasting about 14 hours and is intended for long-haul routes to the Americas and Europe. An airline official said, “Standardizing our fleet facilitates more efficient pilot management and helps in reducing maintenance expenses.”
