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Korean Air has signed a Memorandum of Understanding with Boeing at the Farnborough International Airshow to upgrade and expand its widebody fleet.
The airline has announced its intent to procure 20 Boeing 777-9s and 20 Boeing 787-10s with options for 10 more of the largest 787 Dreamliner variant today (Monday).
The signing ceremony was attended by Walter Cho, chairman and CEO of Korean Air, and Stephanie Pope, president and CEO of Boeing Commercial Airplanes.
“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,” said Cho.
“This investment underscores our commitment to providing a best-in-class flying experience. These new airplanes will elevate passenger comfort and enhance operational efficiency, while significantly reducing carbon emissions, supporting our long-term commitment to sustainable aviation.”
Image: Dan Nevill from Seattle, WA, United States.
The 777-9s and 787-10s, with their capability of long-haul flights to regions such as North America and Europe, are expected to play an important role after Korean Air’s merger with Asiana Airlines. It would not confirm though, if any of the aircraft were destined for Australia / New Zealand routes.
“We are actively reviewing our fleet and network to determine the best deployment strategies for the 787-10. No definitive plans have been confirmed for our Australia and New Zealand networks at this time,” the airline told Travel Weekly in a statement.
The 777-9 is known as the most reliable and efficient airplane in the 777 series. The new carbon-fibre composite wings are longer than the previous 777 family airplanes, enabling the airline to achieve an improved fuel efficiency of more than 10 per cent. With a range of over 13,000 kilometres, the 777-9 can provide direct services to all US destinations from Incheon International Airport. The 777-9 has the longest fuselage in the 777 series, with a typical seating capacity of 400 to 420 seats.
The 787-10 is the largest variant in the 787 family, capable of carrying 15 percent more passengers and cargo than the 787-9 currently in service. It is also more fuel efficient compared to similar-sized aircraft with reduced carbon emissions of over 20 per cent.
Stephanie Pope of Boeing Commercial Airplanes with Walter Cho of Korean Air.
“We are honoured Korean Air has selected two of our largest, most efficient widebody airplanes to add capacity to their global network,” Pope said. “Boeing airplanes have played an integral role in the growth of Korean Air over the past 50 years, and we are confident the 777X and 787 Dreamliner will support the airline’s long-term sustainability goals and continued growth.”
With the addition of the Boeing 777-9s and 787-10s, Korean Air plans to have a total of 203 next-generation, eco-friendly aircraft in its fleet by 2034, including 33 A350s, 50 A321neos and 20 Boeing 787-9s.
Korean Air has been in existence for more than 55 years and is is one of the world’s top 20 airlines, carrying more than 27 million passengers in 2019, pre-COVID. With its global hub at Incheon International Airport (ICN), the airline serves 110 cities in 39 countries on five continents with a modern fleet of 159 aircraft and over 20,000 employees.
Feature image: Stephanie Pope, president and CEO of Boeing Commercial Airplanes and Walter Cho, chairman and CEO of Korean Air, at the signing ceremony.
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