Seoul: Jeju Air Co., South Korea's leading low-cost carrier, has announced the acquisition of its fifth Boeing 737-8 aircraft and has outlined plans to incorporate three additional planes into its fleet in the latter half of the year. This recent purchase brings Jeju Air's total operational fleet to 41 passenger aircraft and two cargo planes, with ten of these being owned rather than leased. Among the owned aircraft, five are Boeing 737-800NG passenger jets.
According to Yonhap News Agency, Jeju Air is intensifying its efforts to enhance flight safety and operational efficiency by bolstering pilot training and maintenance operations. In a significant step towards this goal, the airline signed a memorandum of understanding with Boeing in March to implement a competency-based training and assessment system for pilots. This program is designed to improve pilots' capabilities in effectively managing emergency situations.
The decision to strengthen pilot training comes after a tragic accident involving a Jeju Air B737-800 aircraft on December 29 of the previous year. The aircraft, arriving from Bangkok, collided with the outer wall of Muan International Airport during a belly landing, resulting in the loss of 179 lives out of the 181 individuals on board.