Korean Air places big order for 25 Boeing aircraft

Korean Air (KAL) has placed orders for 25 Boeing aircraft, claiming it is the biggest single order ever from a South Korean carrier.

The SkyTeam alliance carrier says in a statement that it has “finalised a purchase agreement for 25 Boeing aircraft with a value of approximately $5.5 billion at list prices… The biggest aircraft order in Korea’s aviation history”.

It says the order is for 10 777-300ERs, five 737-700/900s, five 747-8 freighters and five 777-200 freighters. Deliveries are set for 2009-2019. Flight understands that the single 737-700 in the deal is a Boeing Business Jet (BBJ) - as can be seen in the picture below.

Picture: KAL

There are also options for four additional 777-300ERs, two 747-8 freighters and two 737-900ERs.

“The 777-300ERs will replace the Boeing 747-400 passenger aircraft that KAL is currently converting to freighters while the 747-8 freighters and 777-200 freighters will further expand KAL’s cargo capacity,” it says.

It adds that “the 737-900ERs will provide additional capacity for passenger routes to neighbouring countries”. KAL is making a particularly big push into China.