Korean Air, Asiana to buy 21 planes in 2011

Korea's two full-service carriers plan to introduce a combined 21 new aircraft this year to meet growing demand and modernize their aging fleets of planes, the companies said Thursday.

Korean Air Lines Co., the country's top carrier, said it will purchase a total of 18 new planes, including five A380 aircraft.

The planned plane introduction will increase its fleet to 147 planes from 129 at the end of last year, Korean Air said.

The top carrier plans to buy 39 aircraft between 2012 and 2016, it added.

No. 2 carrier Asiana Airlines Inc. will increase its fleet to 72 planes with the purchase of three aircraft, including one A330 plane, this year.

It has a plan to buy six A380 planes between 2014 and 2016, while 30 A350XWBs will be introduced between 2016 and 2022, Asiana Airlines said. (Yonhap)