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Top Copyright Photo: Korean Air Airbus A380-861 HL7619 (msn 096) LHR (SPA). “We will use our extensive experience operating aircraft and expertise in the aerospace business, which includes aircraft system integration and assembling Korea’s first space launch vehicle, Naro, to develop an air launch system that is competitive in the global market.” “To attract the fast-growing, worldwide demand for small satellite launches, it is essential to develop capabilities for air launching, which is not affected by weather or geographical conditions,” said Korean Air. This is the reason why the development of air launching capabilities must be prioritized. Therefore, it is inevitable to use overseas projectiles, which take more than two years on average from the signing of the contract to the actual launch. While the military, government and companies scramble to announce plans to utilize small satellite constellations in the “new space age,” an environment to launch small satellites in Korea has not been established yet. LauncherOne, an orbital launch vehicle developed by Virgin Orbit in the U.S, was successfully launched using a modified Boeing 747-400 in January and June 2021. There is also the possibility to generate revenues by providing services to other countries that do not have their own launch site.įor this reason, some countries have already been utilizing commercial aircraft for air launches. In addition, air launching cuts the cost of building and maintaining a site to launch vehicles. Air launch vehicles are launched at altitudes of 12 km, making them less affected by weather conditions, which are a common drawback of ground launches. However, air launch vehicles can be launched in various directions and routes. Currently, satellites can only be launched southward from Naro Space Center, Korea’s spaceport located in the southwest province.
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This research is especially meaningful as air launching capabilities will help Korea to overcome its geographical limitations. However, with the termination of these regulations in May 2021, the development and operation of an air launch system is now possible. “guidelines” that restricted the range of Korea’s ballistic-missiles. Until now, it was not possible to develop projectiles that launch in the air due to the Korea-U.S. The airline will further explore ways to commercialize the modified aircraft in the market. Korean Air has recently commenced a joint research project with Seoul National University, which was commissioned by the Republic of Korea Air Force, to develop the feasibility of using large commercial aircraft for air launching.Īs part of the joint research, Korean Air will analyze the Boeing 747-400’s current technology capability, major technology to be applied, annual operating costs, and necessary aircraft modification for air launching. On a related subject, the airline previously made this announcement about its Boeing 747-400s: The carrier is adding new Boeing 787 Dreamliners to replace these two types. The CEO in an interview with FlightGlobal stated the ultimate goal is to retire the 10 A380-800s by 2026.Īdditionally the 10 Boeing 747-8 Intercontinental aircraft should also be retired by 2031.
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The airline hopes to get the full A380 fleet back in the air when the traffic returns. At least one aircraft appears to be operating currently. Qatar Airways said this week it plans to reinstate half of its network by late June.Korean Air’s Airbus A380 fleet is mostly parked since the entire fleet was grounded on Madue to COVID-19. Korean’s plans add to signs that airlines are banking on June for international travel demand to begin recovering from the impact of the coronavirus outbreak. It adds that reopening the routes will also allow it to secure more cargo capacity. “ Korean Air has added more international passenger flights to its June schedule to prepare for increased travel demand after Covid-19 restrictions per country are relaxed,” the airline says in the statement.
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The new destinations being added include Washington DC, Seattle, Vancouver, Toronto, Amsterdam, Frankfurt, Kuala Lumpur, Singapore, Hanoi, Beijing, Shanghai Pudong, Taipei and Ulaanbaatar. During May, it is operating just 13 routes, or 55 flights per week. South Korea’s biggest airline said on May 7 that it will operate 32 of its 110 international routes in June, equivalent to 146 flights per week or 20% of its usual international capacity. Korean Air is reopening flights to international destinations in North America, Europe and Asia in June, as it prepares for Covid-19-related travel restrictions to ease. Decade of Airline Excellence Awards 2020.