Airbus and Korean Air celebrate 50 years of partnership

Seoul, 5 September 2024 - This week marks the 50th anniversary of the long-standing  partnership between Airbus and Korean Air. This dates back to 5 September 1974, when the airline placed its first order with Airbus for the original A300B4. 

The contract for six aircraft was just the third order to be received by the newly-established Airbus and the first from outside Europe. The landmark decision set the stage for an enduring relationship, with the first Korean Air A300B4 delivered to the airline on 1 August 1975. 

Since that time the carrier has ordered and operated almost every Airbus type, including the A300B4, A300F4, A300-600R, A330-200, A330-300, A380, A220-300, and most recently the latest generation single aisle A321neo. The airline has also consistently ranked among the world’s top operators of Airbus aircraft in terms of technical reliability, winning over 20 Operational Excellence Awards from the manufacturer.

Beyond airline operations, Korean Air Aerospace Business Division (KAL-ASD) has been a supplier to Airbus since 1989. Today, KAL-ASD produces composite cargo doors for the A350, fuel-saving Sharklet wingtip devices for the A320 Family and the latest generation A330neo, as well as fuselage skin panels for the A330.

Looking to the future, in March this year the airline announced a new order for 33 latest generation long range A350 aircraft under its fleet renewal programme. Comprising 27 A350-1000s and six A350-900s, the new fleet will bring new levels of efficiency, offering a 25% reduction in fuel consumption and carbon emissions compared to previous-generation aircraft of a similar size.

Christian Scherer, Airbus Chief Executive Officer, Commercial Aircraft said: “As our first customer from outside Europe, Korean Air played a significant role in establishing Airbus on the global market. Our enduring partnership is testament to shared values of innovation, technical excellence and customer satisfaction. And what better way to celebrate than with the new order for the A350! It’s going to play a key role in the next phase of Korean Air’s development as one of the world’s leading airlines.”

“We thank Korean Air for its long-standing and ongoing confidence in Airbus and its products and look forward to continuing our journey together, shaping the future of aviation.”

“Our half-century journey with Airbus is a testament to the power of collaboration in the aviation industry,” said Walter Cho, Korean Air Chairman and CEO. “As a first customer outside Europe, we took a bold step that helped establish Airbus as a global leader in aviation. In turn, Airbus has consistently provided us with cutting-edge aircraft that have been instrumental in our evolution into a leading global airline. From the first A300 to our recent order of the A350, we’ve consistently chosen Airbus as a partner in our mission to connect the world.”

Altogether, Korean Air has ordered 165 aircraft from Airbus, with 71 on order for future delivery. These include 39 more single aisle A321neo and 33 long range A350.

Photos captions (from top to bottom):

Delivery of the first A300B4 to Korean Air in Toulouse, 1 August 1975 

Korean Air’s first A300B4 in flight in original livery

KAL-ASD manufactures a wide range of structures and components for various Airbus aircraft

Looking to the future, Korean Air has placed an order for 33 long range A350 widebodies    

Editor’s note: 

Korean Air was the third airline in the world to place an order with Airbus, following Air France and Iberia

All photos are available download via this link.

View the commemorative video here