Jeju Air purchases 7th B737-8, plans to buy 1 more
A B737-8 passenger jet / Courtesy of Jeju Air
Jeju Air, Korea's leading low-cost carrier, said Monday it has purchased its seventh B737-8 aircraft and plans to add one more to its fleet before the end of this year.
With the latest addition, Jeju Air operates 43 passenger aircraft, 12 of which are owned rather than leased, the company said in a press release. Five of the owned planes are B737-800NG passenger jets.
"The company is making efforts to establish the infrastructure for sustainable growth by securing price competitiveness and strengthening flight safety through fleet modernization," it said.
In March, Jeju Air signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) with Boeing to adopt a competency-based training and assessment (CBTA) system for pilots. The program aims to enhance pilots' ability to respond effectively to emergency situations.
The move comes after a fatal crash involving a Jeju Air B737-800 aircraft that took place Dec. 29. The plane, arriving from Bangkok, crashed into a concrete structure at Muan International Airport during a belly landing, killing 179 of the 181 people on board.