Air Incheon to Expand Fleet with Boeing and Airbus Freighters Following Asiana Cargo Acquisition

Air Incheon, soon to be South Korea’s second-largest freight carrier after acquiring Asiana Airlines’ cargo division, plans to consider both Boeing and Airbus freighters to upgrade its widebody fleet, according to CEO Stanley Seunghwan Lee. The acquisition, which is set to finalize once it receives the last of the regulatory approvals, will position Air Incheon as a major player in the cargo sector, operating out of Incheon airport—South Korea’s primary international hub and the fifth-busiest cargo airport globally.

Currently, Asiana’s cargo fleet includes 11 Boeing 767 and 747 freighters servicing 25 cities across 12 countries, with significant air rights to major Chinese export hubs and the U.S. Post-acquisition, Air Incheon aims to not only continue these operations but also expand into global charter and wet-lease services while directly engaging with logistics companies.

The fleet update strategy involves negotiations with aircraft lessors and manufacturers for newer models like the Boeing 777 factory freighters and the upcoming Airbus A350 freighters, expected to enter service by 2026. This plan is partly complicated by a global shortage of aircraft and delays in U.S. approvals for converting Boeing 777-300ER passenger jets into freighters.

Despite the ambitious expansion, the transition has been met with resistance from the Asiana Pilot Union (APU), which expresses concerns over Air Incheon’s capacity to manage a significantly larger operation. The union also reported that over 100 Asiana cargo pilots are prepared to resign rather than transfer to Air Incheon. In response, CEO Lee reassured that the existing Asiana staff would retain their salaries and benefits to ensure a smooth integration and operational continuity.

This strategic move by Air Incheon is closely watched as it could reshape freight logistics in Asia, particularly at a time when Korean Air is also finalizing its merger with Asiana, pending approval from U.S. regulatory authorities.

Related news: https://airguide.info/?s=Air+Incheon

Sources: AirGuide Business airguide.info, bing.com, Air Incheon, Asiana