Korean Air headquarters. (Photo=Yonhap News)

 

[Alpha Biz=(Chicago) Reporter Kim Jisun] Korean Air announced on the 21st that it will purchase 33 Airbus mid- to large-sized aircraft A350 series.

The purchase models are A350-1000 (27 units) and A350-900 (6 units), totaling 13.7 billion dollars (about 18 trillion won).

The A350-1000 aircraft is the largest of the A350 series. The seats are between 350 and 410 seats. More than half of the fuselage is made of carbon composite materials, which is more fuel efficient than conventional aircraft of the same class, which can reduce carbon emissions by 25%.

The A350-1000 aircraft has the longest flight range among existing airliners. It can operate up to 16,000km even with both passengers and luggage.

The A350-900 aircraft usually has 300 to 350 seats and can operate up to 15,370 kilometers. It can fly between Incheon and New York. It is about 7ｍ shorter than A350-1000 aircraft.

Korean Air plans to speed up efforts to modernize its aircraft to provide safe aircraft service and reduce carbon emissions.

Korean Air plans to introduce a total of 143 new aircraft, including 50 Airbus A321 Neo, 10 Boeing 787-9, 20 Boeing 787-10, and 30 Boeing 737-8.

[ⓒ AlphaBIZ. 무단전재-재배포 금지]