Korean Air Lines Co. plans to sell five of its B747-8i aircraft in a move to streamline its fleet and enhance cost efficiency.

According to industry sources on Thursday, Korean Air held a board meeting on Wednesday and is known to have decided to sell five B747-8i airplanes to Sierra Nevada Corp (SNC), a U.S. aerospace company.

Korean Air had recently disclosed that it has decided to sell five aircraft for 918.3 billion won but it did not disclose specific models, citing contract issues.

According to Korean Air, it has nine B747-8i aircraft as of the end of March. Five of them are set for sale until the end of 2025, leaving only four.

Boasting a robust heritage as the final iteration of Boeing’s iconic B747 series, the B747-8i is renowned for its long-haul capabilities, capable of flying up to 14 hours and covering around 15,000 kilometers without refueling.

Equipped with four engines, the model can speed up to Mach 0.86 as one of the fastest large passenger jets.

The B747-8i, however, is known for its low fuel efficiency with challenges in meeting stringent global carbon emissions standards.

With the sale of B747-8i aircraft, Korean Air plans to buy more fuel-efficient, and environmentally friendly alternatives.

In March, the carrier inked an 18 trillion won deal with Airbus SE to acquire 33 A350 wide-body jets.

By Cho Yun-hee and Han Yubin

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