Korean Air Nears Boeing 777X Order

Korean Air is inching close to placing a deal with Boeing for the 777X.

Once finalised, a purchase could include up to 30 units. However, according to Reuters sources, the figure is likely between 20 and 30.

Korean Air has long been seeking an additional widebody order to continue building its long-haul fleet.

A commitment to the Boeing 777X would come after it placed an order with Airbus in the last few months for the A350 series. This purchase with the European planemaker was in preparation for the upcoming Asiana Airlines merger.

With the 2024 Farnborough Airshow just weeks away, sources state a deal could be announced in this edition.

The Farnborough Airshow brings the entire industry together in one location for a week of trade-related developments, including the opportunity to announce groundbreaking orders.

A purchase of Boeing’s 777X would be a welcomed development in an incredibly challenging year for the planemaker, which has seen so many quality issues.

Korean Air is gearing up for the hopeful approval from the US regarding its planned merger with Asiana Airlines. Once complete, the pair will combine to create a true mega-company in the aviation industry.

However, to fully prepare for the eventual planned integration, Korean Air is bumping up its commitment to new aircraft to enable the further modernisation of its fleet.

The Airbus A350 purchase aligned with Asiana Airlines’ extensive understanding and commitment to the series. The purchase of the Boeing 777X is touted as a step toward enhancing capacity across its network.

Boeing’s 777X is expected to enter service with customers sometime in 2026, a year later than the timeline provided by the planemaker. However, as Boeing encounters fresh issues across the 2024 calendar year, airline customers have adjusted their forecast, expecting delays to extend.