Aviation news5 min read
The order
This is a firm order, previously carried as an undisclosed order on Boeing's backlog. All the aircraft will be powered by GE or CFM engines.
| Type | Count | Role |
|---|---|---|
| Boeing 777-9 | 20 | Widebody, long-haul |
| Boeing 787-10 | 25 | Widebody Dreamliner |
| Boeing 737-10 | 50 | Narrowbody |
| Boeing 777-8F | 8 | Freighter |
| Total | 103 |
Alongside the aircraft, Korean Air also placed firm orders for 21 spare engines (GE and CFM powerplants) and signed a 15-year maintenance agreement with GE Aerospace for a separate engine program.
Timing and context
- Deliveries from the early 2030s. Korean Air says deliveries are scheduled to begin in the early 2030s.
- Follows an August 2025 preliminary agreement. The order aligns with the memorandum Boeing and Korean Air signed in Washington in August 2025.
- For the post-Asiana period. The airline says the aircraft support long-term growth following the Asiana integration while replacing aging passenger and freighter airframes.
- The 777-8F is new to the airline. Korean Air already has orders for all these types except the 777-8F, which will be new to its fleet.
Boeing orderbook before the deal
Prior to this order, per Aviation Week's Fleet Discovery database, Korean Air's Boeing orderbook already counted:
| Type | Count |
|---|---|
| Boeing 737-8 | 4 |
| Boeing 737-10 | 12 |
| Boeing 777-9 | 20 |
| Boeing 787-9 | 6 |
| Boeing 787-10 | 23 |
The Korean Air – Asiana merger
Korean Air and Asiana are due to finalize their merger on 17 December. Per the report, Asiana has no outstanding Boeing orders. Korean Air says the investment secures a predictable long-term fleet-introduction schedule to support capacity growth after the integration, and that the shift to next-generation models will improve overall fleet fuel efficiency and support its carbon-reduction goals.
Boeing, for its part, framed the confirmation as a tangible outcome of bilateral trade negotiations and a sign of the enduring strength of the U.S.–Republic of Korea industrial alliance.
What it means for travellers from Vietnam
Korean Air links Vietnam with Seoul (Incheon) and is one of the connecting options through Northeast Asia to North America. Renewing the widebody fleet (777-9, 787-10) alongside the Asiana integration points to a larger carrier in network and capacity over the coming years. These are long-term fleet plans and do not change current schedules.
Book Korean Air through TripWise.vn
Agents and corporate clients can call 037 463 9192 for TripWise.vn to check availability and issue Korean Air tickets for the exact itinerary and cabin required. Companies needing VAT invoices and credit terms for business travel can see our corporate flight service.
Airline profile: Korean Air.
Order figures and details are per the announcements by Korean Air and Boeing, as reported by Aviation Week (Adrian Schofield, 16 Sep 2026). TripWise.vn summarises this for agents, corporate clients and travellers; where they differ, the airlines' official statements are authoritative.
Photo credit
Cover — Korean Air Boeing 787-10: 4300streetcar, licensed CC BY 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons.
