(Aviation Week) Korean Air Energy Window International (Media) learnt has signed an agreement to purchase 103 aircraft from Boeing aimed at expanding its existing 737, 787 and 777 commitments as well as adding a new freighter type to its orderbook with the 777-8F.
The purchase deal was signed in Washington, D.C., in parallel with the state visit of South Korean President Lee Jae Myung, according to a local news agency. The timing for the conversion of this agreement to firm orders has not yet been confirmed, the Aviation Week publication reports a Korean Air official as saying.
The deal according to the publication will include 20 777-9s, 25 787-10s, 50 737-10s and eight 777-8Fs. Deliveries of these aircraft have been planned to take place in the 2030s even as engine choices are still under review, according to the report.
The Aviation Week publication also reported the Korean Air as disclosing other deals for spare engines for its existing fleet, including 11 GE90 engines for 777s and eight CFM engines for 737s. The carrier was also reported to have announced, in addition, a 20-year engine maintenance service agreement with GE Aerospace covering 28 aircraft.
The purchase agreement “was made in consideration of the overall fleet growth and replacement [needs] for Hanjin Group’s airlines,” the Korean Air official was quoted to have added. “The carrier is in the process of merging with Asiana Airlines, and the group is also merging its LCC subsidiaries.”
Korean Air’s “long-term plan is to streamline the entire group’s fleet to five highly efficient aircraft types,” comprising 787s, 777s, A350s, 737 MAXs, and A321neos, the airline said.
Energy Window International (Media) has also learnt that the carrier has 20 777-9s already on order, plus 30 787-10s on order with 10 in service. Recalling that last alone, the Korean Air announced making significant orders for both types. It also made orders for 19 737 MAX aircraft, including 12 737-10s, Aviation Week Network Fleet Discovery database was reported to have shown.
“Korean Air currently has no freighters on order. The carrier agreed to sell Asiana’s entire cargo fleet to address regulators’ concerns about the Korean Air-Asiana merger.
“The two airlines also have a significant orderbook with Airbus, with combined orders for more than 50 A321neos and 46 A350s, according to Fleet Discovery.