Just five months after a landmark order for new widebody Boeing jets, Korean Air has returned with a new booking for more than 100 aircraft from each of the OEM’s major series: 50 737 MAX-10 single-aisle jets, 25 787-10 Dreamliners, and 20 777-9 widebody aircraft.
The new order also includes eight Boeing 777-8 Freighters.
For Boeing the total value of the new award is reported to be $36.5 billion. With a separate, $13.7-billion agreement for GE Aerospace GEnx and GE9X turbofan engines to power the new jets, Korean Air is making a $50 billion investment, which follows its $24.9-billion booking with Boeing in March for 20 777-9 jets and 20 787-10s, and options for 10 more widebody aircraft.
It is Korean Air’s largest-ever order, and Boeing’s largest order to date from an Asian customer.
Since the start of 2025, Korean Air orders and commitments with Boeing totals 153 aircraft. Late in 2024 Korean Air completed its acquisition of a majority stake in Asiana Airlines, consolidating their operations and creating South Korea’s largest carrier.
The airline reportedly aims to expand its trans-Pacific service – to North America, Latin America, and South America.
"Acquiring these next-generation aircraft is the core of our fleet modernization strategy, delivering significant gains in fuel efficiency and enhancing the passenger experience across our global network,” stated Korean Air chairman and CEO Walter Cho. “This investment is also a critical enabler for our future as a merged airline with Asiana, to ensure that our combined carrier is one of the most competitive airlines in the industry."
Neither Boeing nor its customer commented on the delivery schedule for the new aircraft – which could stretch out over several years in view of the backlog of orders from major airlines seeking to expand and/or modernize their fleets.
Korean Air’s new order was announced in Washington amid the Korea-U.S. Business Roundtable, “Partnership for a Manufacturing Renaissance,” with U.S. Secretary of Commerce Howard Lutnick and South Korea’s Minister of Trade, Industry and Energy, Kim Jung-kwan attending.
“The world recognizes that our aircraft are the most advanced in the world, and this administration is committed to reshoring advanced manufacturing jobs for Americans," Lutnick stated.
