Airbus and Korean Air Celebrate 50 Years of Collaboration

Korean Air and Airbus celebrated the 50th anniversary of their partnership, which started in 1974. The two entities have been involved since Airbus introduced its first-ever production aircraft into service, and the historic relationship has remained strong ever since.

Pushing boundaries

In 1971, Airbus began making a name by releasing the A300. The twinjet, widebody, double-aisle airliner was the first jetliner the collaborative European outfit produced. The aircraft proved successful within its first few years, garnering attention from airlines outside of Europe.

Photo: A Periam Photography | Shutterstock

Korean Air was one such airline. At the time, it was only 11 years old and operated a mixed fleet of Boeing and McDonnell Douglas aircraft. According to Airbus, the Asian operator took a leap of faith and ordered three A300s in 1974, becoming the third airline ever to order Airbus aircraft and the first airline outside Europe to do so.

Christian Scherer, Airbus CEO of Commercial Aircraft, spoke to Aerotime about what the partnership means to the manufacturer:

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.”

Since that initial order, Korean Air has operated almost every type of Airbus aircraft and has bought more than 95 aircraft from the manufacturer. The airline is set to operate the latest model from Airbus, the A350. Korean Air has placed orders for six A350-900s and 27 A350-1000s.

Not just a customer

Korean Air isn’t simply an Airbus customer. The relationship between the two entities is much deeper. A subsidiary of the airline, Korean Air Aerospace Business Division (KAL-ASD), is a supplier for Airbus, producing composite parts for the A350 and A320 families, such as cargo doors, sharklets, and fuselage skin panels.

Walter Cho, Korean Air Chairman and CEO, spoke about the airline’s relationship with Airbus:

“Our half-century journey with Airbus is a testament to the power of collaboration in the aviation industry. 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.”

The two companies are deeply committed to each other and are expected to continue the partnership for decades to come.

Lufthansa Airbus A380 Taking Off Above Boeing 747

Airbus A380 Or Boeing 747: Which Is Your Preferred Double-Decker Quadjet?

They say size matters, and, for many avgeeks, this is certainly the case when it comes to choosing their favorite aircraft. This was perhaps best exemplified by the huge crowds that the mighty six-engine Antonov An-225 used to draw wherever it flew during its operational career, which was sadly cut short by Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. In terms of passenger aircraft, the Airbus A380 and Boeing 747 stand out in this regard as the industry’s only double-decker quadjets.

Despite being built to serve similar markets, these aircraft had wildly different levels of commercial success. Indeed, the iconic 747 was in production for around half a century, and is credited as having been a key catalyst in the democratization of air travel for passengers traveling on lower budgets. On the other hand, the Airbus A380 has become something of a white elephant, with production ceasing as it became clear that few operators could make it work in today’s lower-capacity aviation industry.

While its comme