777 Purchased Mainly by People in Their 20s, 787 by People in Their 30s
Fleet Restructuring Gains Momentum
Korean Air has signed a contract to purchase 50 aircraft from the American company Boeing.
Korean Air announced on the 22nd that it signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) with Boeing to purchase 20 units of the 777-9 and 30 units of the 787-110 (including 10 options).
On the 22nd (local time), Cho Won-tae, Chairman of Korean Air, attended the Farnborough International Airshow in the UK and signed the contract with Stephanie Pope, President of Boeing Commercial Airplanes.
The newly introduced 777-9 and 787-10 are medium-to-large aircraft capable of long-haul flights to regions such as the Americas and Europe. They are expected to play a central role in Korean Air's fleet following the integration with Asiana Airlines.
The 777-9 features longer wings made of carbon composite materials, improving fuel efficiency by more than 10% compared to existing 777 series aircraft. It has the longest fuselage among the 777 series, accommodating 400 to 420 seats. Its flight range exceeds 13,000 km, enabling direct flights from Incheon Airport to all regions in the United States.
The 787-10 is the largest model in the 787 series and can carry 15% more passengers and cargo compared to the currently operating 787-9. Its fuel efficiency is also improved by more than 25% compared to the existing 777-200.
Meanwhile, Korean Air plans to increase its fleet to 203 state-of-the-art eco-friendly aircraft by 2034 by introducing 33 Airbus A350 series aircraft and 50 A321neo aircraft.
Cho Won-tae, Chairman of Hanjin Group, said, "The introduction of the Boeing 777-9 and 787-10 will be an important milestone in Korean Air's strategic goal of expanding and upgrading its fleet. We will make long-term efforts to enhance passenger comfort and operational efficiency while significantly reducing carbon emissions for sustainable management."
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