Korean Air’s Huge Boeing Order

Korean Air looks poised to announce a landmark order for new Boeing aircraft.

In a deal which would be the largest in its long-standing history, the carrier will purchase around 100 aircraft, according to Reuters.

While firm details are yet to arrive, the deal should be announced shortly as the CEO of Boeing Commercial Aeroplanes, Stephanie Pope, and Korean Air’s CEO Cho Won-tae were attending an event in Washington with business leaders.

The order is expected to include aircraft from the 737 MAX family, the 787 family and lastly the 777X in a major boost for flying across South Korea and beyond.

Additionally, there’s much interest in this deal helping to grow Asiana Airlines and transition this business to next-generation fleet types to better align with Korean Air, which will take over the fellow South Korean-based carrier.

However, there’s also great optimism about what this huge order, once finalised, can do for Korean Air as they look to grow their market share around the world and enhance connectivity to their home.

For Boeing, the contract would be yet another signed across recent months as trade deals are struck between countries and more often than not, the major trade deals look to include new commercial aircraft orders with Boeing involved.

Therefore, Boeing would not be the only carrier to purchase new planes in recent months; it has been a busy period for the planemaker as airlines and countries have flocked to its commercial aeroplane division to source new jets.

Korean Air’s Other Boeing Order

At the 2024 Farnborough Airshow, Korean Air also committed to new long-haul aircraft from Boeing to help develop its fleet, a mammoth contract as well.

The airline’s purchase included two aircraft types from the American planemaker’s long-haul portfolio and was directly viewed as a way to grow operations in the years to come.

Korean Air committed to 20 777-9s from the 777X family, a type that is still awaiting certification. Furthermore, the airline reaffirmed its reliance on the 787 Dreamliner with orders for 20 of the largest 787-10.

The purchase of the 787-10 includes options for ten more units. The deal also came at the same time as the celebration of the first 787-10.

Korean Air was, at the time of ordering the 777X, hopeful that a first delivery was expected in 2028. This delivery timeframe factors in the variant’s uncertified nature, but did not factor in the most recent pushback from a 2025 approval to 2026.

Korean Air’s purchase of Boeing equipment also came after months of speculation and reaffirms the airline’s commitment to the planemaker that has endured its troubles.