Jeju Air said on the 6th that it has introduced its ninth B737-8, a next-generation aircraft. The newly introduced aircraft is expected to begin operations after going through an airworthiness certification (which verifies the safety suitability and reliability of aircraft operations), among other procedures.
With the introduction of this ninth aircraft purchase, Jeju Air's proportion of next-generation aircraft among its passenger fleet has reached 21%. The share of purchased aircraft also increased to 35% of the total.
Jeju Air returned one aging aircraft after its lease expired in Nov. last year, and returned one more aging aircraft this month, lowering its average fleet age to 12.3 years, down 1.7 years from Jan. last year.
Starting with the purchase introduction of two B737-8 aircraft in 2023, Jeju Air purchased and introduced a total of eight next-generation aircraft through last year. This year, the company plans to additionally introduce a total of seven purchased B737-8s.
A Jeju Air official said, "Expanding the introduction of next-generation aircraft and the share of purchased aircraft is a mid- to long-term strategy to simultaneously enhance operational safety and cost competitiveness," adding, "We will further solidify the foundation for sustainable growth through fleet modernization."