South Korea’s Airline Fleet Expansion and Aging Aircraft Concerns

South Korea’s airline industry is experiencing a recovery in aircraft numbers following the disruptions caused by the COVID-19 pandemic, with a total of 441 aircraft in operation as of last year. However, a growing number of older aircraft—those over 20 years of age—are raising safety management concerns, prompting airlines to plan fleet upgrades and retirements.

Fleet Growth and Composition

The total number of aircraft operated by South Korean airlines in 2023 reached 441, comprising 401 passenger planes and 40 cargo planes. This represents an increase of 25 aircraft compared to 2024, with passenger planes increasing by 27 and cargo planes decreasing by 2 .

The industry experienced a decline during the peak of the COVID-19 pandemic, falling from 414 aircraft in 2019 to 366 in 2021. However, numbers have been steadily rebounding, reaching 370 in 2022 and 393 in 2023.

Here’s a breakdown of the fleet size by airline:

• Korean Air: 167 aircraft (144 passenger, 23 cargo) – an increase of 2 from the previous year. The fleet includes 45 B777s, 27 B787s, 24 B737s, and 19 A321s.
• Asiana Airlines: 68 passenger planes – a decrease of 15 due to the transfer of its cargo division to Air Zeta in August 2023, ahead of its integration with Korean Air.
• T’way Air: 46 passenger planes (based in Daegu)
• Jeju Air: 45 aircraft (43 passenger, 2 cargo)
• Jin Air: 31 aircraft
• Air Busan: 21 aircraft
• Eastar Jet: 20 aircraft
• Aero K: 9 aircraft
• Air Premia: 9 aircraft
• Air Seoul: 6 aircraft
• Paratha Airlines: 4 aircraft (entered service in September 2023)
• Air Zeta: 15 cargo planes

Aging Aircraft and Safety Management

A significant concern is the number of aging aircraft in operation. As of last year, 67 aircraft (15.2% of the total fleet) were manufactured more than 20 years ago. This includes 28 Korean Air planes, 15 operated by Air Zeta, 8 by Jin Air, 6 by Jeju Air, and 5 by Asiana Airlines. The Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport classifies these as “aged aircraft” and subjects them to enhanced safety management protocols .

Fleet Renewal Plans

Airlines are responding to the issue of aging aircraft by planning to retire older models and introduce new ones. This year, airlines intend to dispose of 32 aircraft, including older planes, while adding 55 new aircraft to their fleets. Korean Air has a long-term plan to introduce a total of 91 aircraft by 2030, including 31 A321-200 Neo models.