Jowon Tae "US Expected to Approve Asiana Merger by Late October... Orders 30 Boeing Aircraft"

Cho Won-tae, Chairman of Hanjin Group, stated that he expects to obtain approval from U.S. antitrust authorities by the end of October regarding the merger of Korean Air and Asiana Airlines. He expressed trust in Boeing, the aircraft manufacturer recently embroiled in safety controversies due to aircraft defects, and revealed plans to order 30 Boeing aircraft as early as next month.

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In an interview with Bloomberg News held in Dubai on the 2nd (local time), Chairman Cho said regarding the acquisition of Asiana Airlines, "We have fulfilled all the requirements demanded by the U.S. and the European Union (EU)."

He emphasized his belief that no further concessions would be necessary beyond the sale of Asiana Airlines' cargo division and adjustments to long-haul passenger routes. Previously, the EU conditionally approved the corporate merger of Korean Air and Asiana Airlines on the prerequisite of selling Asiana Airlines' cargo division. Currently, Korean Air is awaiting approval only from the U.S. among the 14 antitrust authorities.

Korean Air is also considering the merger of three low-cost carriers: Jin Air, Air Busan, and Air Seoul, which are subsidiaries of Korean Air and Asiana Airlines.

Chairman Cho envisions expanding Korean Air's aircraft fleet by up to 100 planes within the next five years. Following a recent order of 33 Airbus SE aircraft, he plans to place an order for Boeing aircraft as early as July.

He stated, "We are currently deliberating between the Boeing 787 Dreamliner and the Airbus A350," adding, "The decision will be made at the Farnborough Airshow in the UK at the end of July, and there is a high possibility of ordering the Boeing 787."

Earlier, Boeing has been under investigation by the U.S. Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) following an incident in January where a modular cabin component called a 'door plug' detached from a 737 Max 9 passenger aircraft carrying 177 people.

Chairman Cho said, "Boeing is a strong company, and I trust Boeing's management. They will succeed. It may take some time."

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