Korean Air on Tuesdsay uncovered its two new fuel-efficient and eco-friendly Boeing freighters that emit up to 17 percent less carbon dioxide in a bid to raise its competitiveness in cargo transport.
Korean Air became the first airliner in the world to own both the B747-8F and the B777F.
The B747-8F can carry 134 tons of cargo, the largest among existing commercial freighters, or 24 tons more than the B747-400F used by Korean Air so far. The new aircraft also makes less noise.
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Korean Air executives and government officials applaud at a ceremony to introduce the carrier’s new freighters at Gimpo International Airport on Tuesday. (Kim Myung-sub/The Korea Herald) |
Korean Air plans to operate the B747-8F on routes with high cargo demand such as Los Angeles, San Francisco, Tokyo and Osaka.
The smaller B777F will be put into use for longer distance routes such as Vienna, Frankfurt and London.
Korean Air launched new regular freighter routes to Saint Petersburg, Zaragoza and Qingdao last year, and irregular flights to San Paulo and Lima.
The airliner plans to open new routes to Central and South America and midwestern China this year.
Freighters account for about 30 percent of Korean Air’s sales.
By Kim So-hyun (
sophie@heraldcorp.com)
