Korean Air signed a memorandum of understanding to buy up to 50 A321neos at the Paris Air Show yesterday, becoming the latest carrier to commit to the new narrowbody family. The agreement, worth approximately $6.2 billion, includes 30 firm orders and 20 options.
The aircraft will come in two-class configuration with wider seats in both classes. It will be operated on routes across southeast Asia, capitalizing on its full-payload range of 3,000 nm.
“The A321 will bring new levels of efficiency, longer flying range and greater inflight comfort to our single aisle fleet, as well as reduced impact on the environment,” said Korean Air chairman Cho Yang Ho.
Meanwhile Japanese low-cost carrier Peach Aviation is buying three Airbus A320s–the announcement was followed by a signing ceremony here yesterday. The $291 million deal is the airline’s first Airbus order, although it does currently operate 14 leased A320s. Its new aircraft will have 180 passengers in a single-class layout and will be powered by CFM engines.
Separately, Eva Air of Taiwan signed a memorandum of understanding, valued approximately at just over $1 billion, to buy A330-300s. Like it’s existing A330s, the new twinjets will be powered by GE Aviation CF6-80 engines.