Four aircraft added in August and September

Average fleet age drops to 7-year range

Spare engine also secured

Eastar Jet executives and staff pose for a commemorative photo at the apron of Gimpo International Airport on Sunday afternoon. [Eastar Jet]
Eastar Jet executives and staff pose for a commemorative photo at the apron of Gimpo International Airport on Sunday afternoon. [Eastar Jet]

Eastar Jet said Monday it had taken delivery of its 24th aircraft on Sunday, following the addition of its 22nd and 23rd planes in August.

To mark the occasion, the airline held a ceremony Sunday afternoon at the apron of Gimpo International Airport, attended by executives including Chief Management Officer Yoo Sang-jong and Chief Commercial Officer Lee Kyung-min.

All three newly added aircraft — the 22nd through 24th — are Boeing 737-8s configured with 189 seats, delivered directly from Boeing as brand-new planes making their first entry into the Eastar Jet fleet.

With the three additions, Eastar Jet has expanded its fleet to 24 aircraft and lowered the average age of its planes to the 7-year range, which the airline says is the lowest among domestic carriers. The number of Boeing 737-8s in the fleet has grown to 14, bringing the share of next-generation aircraft to about 58 percent of the total.

The Boeing 737-8 offers greater fuel efficiency than older models, enabling cost savings on fuel and reductions in carbon emissions. Eastar Jet plans to continue modernizing its fleet around the 737-8, steadily improving operational efficiency, cost competitiveness and eco-friendly flying capabilities.

Alongside the new aircraft, Eastar Jet also secured an additional spare engine. A spare engine allows the airline to respond quickly when unexpected maintenance or replacement is needed, improving operational stability and on-time performance.

"By expanding our fleet to 24 aircraft and securing an additional spare engine, we have significantly strengthened our fleet competitiveness and operational stability," an Eastar Jet official said. "We will continue to improve operational efficiency on the back of our expanded fleet, while also enhancing customer satisfaction through the comfortable cabin environment of our new aircraft."

Meanwhile, Eastar Jet is rapidly expanding its China network, raising expectations for improved profitability. After securing traffic rights for routes to Xiamen and Hohhot in April, the airline this month added routes to Beijing and Nanjing. Particularly notable is the acquisition of traffic rights for seven weekly round trips to Beijing — on top of its existing Shanghai service — giving the carrier a route network connecting China's two largest cities.


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