Korean Air to Purchase 103 Boeing Jets for Fleet Renewal

Korean Air Plans Order for 103 Boeing Aircraft to Support Fleet Renewal and Integration with Asiana

Boeing and Korean Air have announced that Korean Air plans to purchase 103 aircraft from Boeing’s fuel-efficient family of airplanes. This order is part of Korean Air’s fleet renewal strategy and will aid in the airline’s integration with Asiana Airlines over the next several years.

The agreement marks Korean Air’s largest order to date and Boeing’s biggest widebody order from an Asian airline. Once finalized, this purchase will also be Korean Air’s first order for the 777-8 Freighter. The order will be listed on Boeing’s Orders & Deliveries website and will include:

• 20 Boeing 777-9

• 25 Boeing 787-10

• 50 Boeing 737-10

• 8 Boeing 777-8 Freighters

Walter Cho, Chairman and CEO of Korean Air, said: “This agreement with our partners Boeing and GE is an important step in our fleet modernization plan. Acquiring these aircraft will improve fuel efficiency and enhance the travel experience across our global network. It also supports our goal of building a stronger combined airline with Asiana.”

The announcement was made during the Korea-U.S. Business Roundtable, Partnership for a Manufacturing Renaissance, attended by Howard Lutnick, U.S. Secretary of Commerce, and Kim Jung-kwan, South Korea’s Minister of Trade, Industry and Energy.

With this commitment, Korean Air’s orders and commitments for Boeing aircraft in 2025 exceed 150 units, following a previous order in March for 20 Boeing 777-9 and 20 Boeing 787-10 aircraft.

Stephanie Pope, President and CEO of Boeing Commercial Airplanes, said: “We value our partnership with Korean Air and are committed to supporting the airline’s growth as it transitions to a unified carrier with Asiana.”

Aircraft Details:

• The 777-9 can carry 426 passengers in a two-class layout with a range of 13,510 km.

• The 787-10 seats up to 336 passengers with a range of 11,730 km.

• The 737-10, the largest model in the 737 MAX family, can seat up to 230 passengers with a range of 5,740 km.

• The 777-8 Freighter offers high payload capacity with improved fuel efficiency compared to older freighters.

The airline currently operates 108 Boeing aircraft, including 737s, 747s, 777s, and 787s. With 72 jets already on order, its Boeing order book will increase to 175 once the new agreement is finalized.

In addition to operating Boeing aircraft, the airline’s Aerospace Division supplies components for the 787 Dreamliner and produces parts for the 737 MAX, 767, and 777 families.