K Air Aviation (Cheong Ju) has placed a firm order with Airbus (AIB, Toulouse Blagnac) for eight A320-200s the European manufacturer has announced in a statement.

Based out of Cheongju in central South Korea, KAIR will focus on the budget niche offering services primarily to international destinations in North East Asia.

As previously reported, KAIR is understood to have submitted an application for an air transportation business license to the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, and Transport (MOLIT) in February.

If granted, KAIR will then be able to proceed with its Air Operator's Certificate (AOC) which it hopes to complete in time for a 2018 launch.