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Korea Air Lines plans to buy 33 Airbus (OTCPK:EADSY) (OTCPK:EADSF) A350 wide-body jets in an order worth $13.7 billion. South Korea’s flag carrier aims to expand its long-haul fleet by retiring older planes, it said on Thursday.
The order includes 27 A350-1000s and six A350-900s, which will be deployed on global routes such as Seoul-New York. Despite the announced value of $13.7 billion, plane makers typically offer discounts off list price on larger orders.
Korea Air said the order supports its integration with rival Asiana Airlines. The European Union last month granted preliminary approval for the $1.29 billion acquisition.
The order announcement came the same day Boeing (NYSE:BA) and Airbus (OTCPK:EADSY) (OTCPK:EADSF) have received an order for 42 new planes from Japan Airlines (OTCPK:JAPSY) (OTCPK:JPNRF).