Korean Air has confirmed that it will become the latest customer for Boeing’s much-delayed 777X widebody aircraft on Monday, the first day of the Farnborough Air Show in England.
The order had been anticipated last month, but on Monday, Boeing was finally able to confirm that Korean Air had placed an order for up to 50 new widebody aircraft, including the 777X and the 787-10 Dreamliner.
Korean Air’s decision to order new Boeing jets comes just several months after the Seoul-based carrier finalized an order for 33 Airbus A350 widebody aircraft – which will also be a new aircraft type for the airline.
Korean Air operates a very diverse fleet of aircraft, with various single-aisle and dual-aisle aircraft from rival manufacturers Airbus and Boeing.
The airline has signed an intent to purchase 20 of Boeing’s larger 777-9, along with 20 Boeing 787-10 Dreamliners and options for a further 10 of the largest Dreamliner variant.
Deliveries are expected to start, however, until 2028.
The 777X has faced a slew of certification delays, but earlier this month, Boeing revealed that it had finally won approval from the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) to restart certification flights.
If the certification campaign goes to plan this time, then Boeing might be in a position to start deliveries of the aircraft from next year. Dubai-based Emirates is expected to be the launch customer of the airliner.
“The addition of the Boeing 777-9 and 787-10 aircraft marks a significant milestone in our strategic objective to expand and upgrade our fleet,” commented Korean Air’s CEO and chairman Walter Cho on Monday.
Cho added: “These new airplanes will elevate passenger comfort and enhance operational efficiency, while significantly reducing carbon emissions, supporting our long-term commitment to sustainable aviation.”
Boeing will doubt be happy to have secured Korean Air as the latest customer for its troubled 777X and the order may indicate that the industry is increasingly confident that the long delays that have beset program might now be coming to an end.
