Jeju Air (7C, Jeju) is in talks with Airbus and Boeing over a proposed new order for fifty narrowbody jets, sources who spoke to Reuters on condition of anonymity said.

No further details concerning the make-up or type of aircraft being sought after were mentioned. The airline declined to confirm the proposed order stating only that it had requested estimates from both manufacturers for internal review.

The South Korean low-cost carrier currently operates a fleet of thirty-nine B737-800s and will introduce its first B737 MAX during the second half of 2019.

During a press conference earlier this year, the carrier's CEO, Lee Seok-joo, said the MAX's additional 2 hours of flying time over the -800 would allow it to serve more medium-haul destinations in Southeast Asia. At present, it runs domestic Korean trunk routes as well as flights to China, Japan, the Philippines, Malaysia, Laos, Cambodia, Saipan, Guam, Taipei, Hong Kong, Macau, Russia, and Vietnam.

As for South Korea's other LCCs, Eastar Jet (ZE, Seoul Gimpo) will add its first B737-8s before year-end while t'way Air (TW, Daegu) will add its first MAX during the second half of next year. As recently reported, Air Busan (BX, Busan) will add two A321neo(LR)s in the last quarter of next year followed by two standard-variant A321neo in 2020.