Korean Air invests $36 billion in Boeing jets
Support for approximately 135,000 jobs in the United States
With this investment, Korean Air aims to maintain its competitiveness through the modernization of its fleet.
Korean Air has announced an investment of over $36 billion (approximately €31 billion) in Boeing aircraft. As the South Korean airline revealed on Tuesday, the order comprises a total of 103 airplanes, which are scheduled to be delivered by the end of 2030. The specific order includes 20 Boeing 777-9s, 25 Boeing 787-10s, 50 Boeing 737-10s, and eight Boeing 777-8F freighters.
According to Boeing, this not only marks the largest single order in Korean Air’s history but also represents the most extensive wide-body aircraft order the company has ever received from an Asian carrier. The deal is expected to support approximately 135,000 jobs in the United States.
Walter Cho, who is also chairman of the Hanjin Group, Korean Air’s parent company, emphasized in an interview with Reuters that this major order will enable expansion to more destinations in the U.S., Latin America, and South America. Additionally, the order is part of the strategic realignment following last year’s acquisition of South Korean competitor Asiana Airlines. »This investment is a crucial prerequisite for our future as a merged airline, ensuring that we become one of the most competitive carriers in the industry«, Cho was quoted as saying in a Business Insider report.
In addition to the aircraft order, Korean Air signed a $690 million contract with engine manufacturers GE Aerospace and CFM International for 19 spare engines. Furthermore, a 20-year engine maintenance agreement was signed with GE Aerospace, valued at $13 billion.
The major order comes at a critical time for Boeing, which is seeking to regain momentum after several weak quarters. In the second quarter of 2025, the aircraft manufacturer reported a 35 percent increase in revenue compared to the same period the previous year, with sales reaching $22.7 billion.
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