S. Korea to charter airliner for president amid economic doldrums

SEOUL, Aug. 29 (Yonhap) -- South Korea plans to lease an airliner for its
president and other top government officials starting next year instead of buying
one to replace its overused presidential jet, an official said Saturday.
The plan comes after South Korea recently decided to postpone the purchase of a
new airplane for official trips amid a global economic crisis that has forced it
to seek belt-tightening measures.
The country, the world's 15th-largest economy, currently operates a Boeing 737
passenger airplane for its president that has been in use 1985. It is considered
by the government as insufficient in both passenger capacity and flight distance,
forcing President Lee Myung-bak to board a commercial airliner for long-distance
trips.
"Starting in August next year, a passenger plane will be leased from a domestic
commercial airline for full use for four years," a government official said. "The
plane will likely be used by the prime minister and ministers as well as the
president if needed."
The government estimates 115.7 billion won (US$92 million) will be needed for the
four-year contract. The official said 13.7 billion won will be doled out from the
government budget for the first several months of use.
The airliner will likely be a Boeing 747 or an equivalent, the official said.
samkim@yna.co.kr
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