Korean Air makes aviation history with record 103-jet Boeing deal

Korean Air has announced its intent to acquire 103 Boeing aircraft in what marks both the airline’s largest-ever order and Boeing’s most significant wide-body deal from an Asian carrier to date. The agreement represents a pivotal step in Korean Air’s long-term fleet modernisation and its strategic integration with Asiana Airlines.

The order, once finalised, will be recorded on Boeing’s official Orders & Deliveries database and will include 20 Boeing 777-9s, 25 Boeing 787-10s, 50 Boeing 737-10s, and notably, eight Boeing 777-8 Freighters — Korean Air’s first commitment to this next-generation cargo model.

Deliveries are scheduled through 2030, and the agreement is expected to support approximately 135,000 jobs across the United States, Caliber.Az reports, citing foreign media.

Walter Cho, Chairman and CEO of Korean Air, highlighted the strategic significance of the agreement, stating: “This agreement with our long-standing partners, Boeing and GE, marks a pivotal moment for Korean Air. Acquiring these next-generation aircraft is the core of our fleet modernisation strategy, delivering significant gains in fuel efficiency and enhancing the passenger experience across our global network. 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.”

The agreement was signed during the Korea-US Business Roundtable titled “Partnership for a Manufacturing Renaissance”, attended by US Secretary of Commerce Howard Lutnick and South Korea’s Minister of Trade, Industry and Energy, Kim Jung-kwan.

This latest commitment builds upon Korean Air’s incremental order in March 2025 for 20 additional 777-9s and 20 787-10s, bringing its total orders and commitments with Boeing this year to over 150 aircraft. The airline currently operates a fleet of 108 Boeing aircraft, including 737s, 747s, 777s, and 787s. With 72 aircraft already on order, the finalisation of this new deal will expand Korean Air’s backlog to 175 units.

By Vafa Guliyeva