Strengthening operational capacity for short- and medium-haul routes
Fleet grows to six aircraft about a year after first plane joined
Parata Air announced Wednesday that it has completed a contract to acquire an Airbus A320-200 as its sixth aircraft. The plane carries the registration code HL8788 and is expected to enter service after being brought into the country and undergoing interior modifications, maintenance checks and regulatory approval procedures.
With the addition of the sixth aircraft, Parata Air's fleet will grow to six planes in total — three A320-200s and three A330-200s. The A320-200 will be deployed primarily on domestic routes and short- to medium-haul international routes, including those to Japan and China.
The acquisition is tied to the airline's ongoing international network expansion. Since launching commercial operations in September last year, Parata Air has steadily built out its international routes, focusing on Japan and Vietnam.
The airline has also been pushing into the Chinese market in earnest since the second half of this year. On Nov. 9, it will launch four weekly flights on the Incheon–Shenzhen route — its first scheduled service to China — operating an A330-200 configured with 18 business-class seats. In December, the airline plans to introduce the A320-200 on a new Yangyang–Shanghai route, resuming scheduled international service at Yangyang International Airport.
Parata Air has also secured traffic rights for major Chinese routes, including Incheon–Shanghai and Incheon–Hangzhou, through the recent allocation of international air traffic rights. The airline plans to expand its China network in stages in line with market conditions and its business plan.
Beyond China, the airline is preparing to enter the North American market next year. Parata Air is working through the necessary procedures with the goal of launching an Incheon–Los Angeles route in the first half of next year, and has recently established a Los Angeles branch to build its local operations and sales presence.
"The addition of our sixth aircraft has significantly strengthened our ability to stably operate our growing domestic and international routes," a Parata Air official said. "We will continue to expand our fleet in stages in line with our business plan and route expansion."
Meanwhile, according to the September 2026 Monthly Aviation Consumer Research Note published by the Korea Transport Institute, Parata Air recorded a domestic flight delay rate of 8.1 percent in July — the lowest among 10 South Korean carriers. Its international delay rate for the same period was 10.3 percent, the second lowest among 11 domestic carriers.
likehyo85@heraldcorp.com
