{"id":63307,"date":"2024-05-09T19:43:34","date_gmt":"2024-05-09T14:13:34","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/aviationa2z.com\/?p=63307"},"modified":"2024-05-09T20:06:09","modified_gmt":"2024-05-09T14:36:09","slug":"korean-air-sells-5-boeing-747s","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/aviationa2z.com\/index.php\/2024\/05\/09\/korean-air-sells-5-boeing-747s\/","title":{"rendered":"Korean Air Sells 5 Boeing 747s to US to Convert Them as New Nuclear Plane"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

SEOUL-<\/strong> Korean Air (KE) <\/a>announced in an exchange filing on Wednesday that it will sell five Boeing 747 aircraft to the US-based aerospace firm Sierra Nevada.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Sierra Nevada Corporation recently secured a $13 billion contract<\/strong> from the U.S. Air Force to develop a successor to the E-4B Nightwatch, commonly called the Doomsday Plane<\/strong>. This aircraft is renowned for its capability to endure nuclear warfare and serve as a command and control center during emergency situations.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Photo: By tjdarmstadt – IMG_8483.jpg, CC BY 2.0, https:\/\/commons.wikimedia.org\/w\/index.php?curid=61529842<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Korean Air Sells 747s<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

According to a Reuters <\/em>source knowledgeable about the situation, the planes being sold by Korean Air are four-engine Boeing 747-8s<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The current E-4 planes, in service since the 1970s, are modified Boeing 747-200s.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Korean Air’s filing stated that the sale, valued at 918 billion Korean won ($674 million), aligns with the airline’s medium to long-term strategy of phasing out older aircraft and acquiring newer generation ones.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

As per the filing, Korean Air plans to complete the sale of the planes in September 2025.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Photo: By tjdarmstadt – IMG_6410.jpg, CC BY 2.0, https:\/\/commons.wikimedia.org\/w\/index.php?curid=61529569<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

One of Only three 747-8 Operator<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Korean Air is one of only three airlines globally operating the Boeing 747-8 passenger version. Lufthansa (LH) <\/a>leads with the largest fleet of 19 of these aircraft, followed by Air China (CA)<\/a> with seven.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In 2021, Korean Air’s CEO outlined plans for the retirement of the A380 <\/a>within five years (by 2026) and the Boeing 747-8 within 10 years (by 2031). However, such plans are subject to change, leaving room for speculation.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Suppose Korean Air proceeds to sell over half of its 747-8 fleet. In that case, it raises questions about the potential extension of the A380’s service life, particularly considering delays in the delivery of other aircraft. Only time will reveal the outcome.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Given the limited demand for secondhand four-engine aircraft, they are often scrapped or used for spare parts. So, what’s in store for the five Boeing 747-8s sold by Korean Air? Ask OMAAT. These planes are destined for the US aerospace firm Sierra Nevada Corporation.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The current E-4Bs, operational since the 1970s, are modified variants of the Boeing 747-200.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The US Air Force’s decision to opt for converted Boeing 747-8s suggests a necessity for an upgrade, signaling a shift toward modernization.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Stay tuned with us. Further, follow us on social media for the latest updates.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Join us on Telegram Group <\/a>for the Latest Aviation Updates. Subsequently, follow us on Google News<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Korean Air Scraps One More Airbus A380 at Seoul Incheon Airport<\/a><\/blockquote>