Paul Lewis/NEW YORK
Korean Air (KAL) is expressing interest in a freighter version of the proposed stretched Boeing 747X as the carrier begins to consider its fleet replacement and growth requirements for 2003 and beyond.
"We have committed orders taking us through to 2002. We will review our plans later this year and negotiate in the second quarter of next year for more aircraft to replace our existing fleet and meet increased market demand," says Yi-Taek Shim, KAL president and chief executive.
A major priority for KAL is to complete the replacement of its eight Boeing 747-200F and four converted MD-11s, the latter by 2005/06, for which a freighter version of an enlarged 747X is viewed as a good candidate. It also operates three 747-400s and charters five more 747s from Atlas, but would like a fleet of up to 19-20 of its own large freighters.
Shim adds that the carrier would like to rationalise it fleet down to just three types, but concedes a maximum of four is more achievable. The new plan will focus on the needs of four main markets encompassing 150/200-seat and 300-seat plus short-range and 250/300-seat and 400-seat long-range jets.
The carrier has ordered 26 Boeing 737s, the first nine due for delivery this year. The 737s will replace its MD-80s and Fokker 100s by 2003, and Shim thinks the carrier "may need 5 to 10 more aircraft" in the category.
The rest of the fleet will comprise Airbus A330 200/300s and 777 200ER/300s. Three more A330 300s have been ordered for delivery in 2001/02.
KAL's fleet size is static at 109, with 17 deliveries and 18 retirements scheduled for this year. With fleet planning based on an annual growth of around 5% and replacement of a similar number of aircraft, "we'll have to buy between 8 and 10 new aircraft a year," suggests Shim.
A factor that could change this assumption would be the opening of the North Korean market, adds Shim. Once regarded as unthinkable, a recent thawing in political relations after more than 50 years of hostility could lead to an establishment of services between the two countries. KAL's likely response would be to dust off suspended plans to acquire regional jets.
Source: Flight International
