Home Innovation Aviation and Aerospace Korean Air Secures $32 Billion...

Korean Air Secures $32 Billion Boeing Aircraft Deal

Aviation and Aerospace

Business Honor
25 March, 2025

Korean Air signs a $32 billion deal to purchase up to 50 Boeing aircraft, boosting U.S. manufacturing.

Korean Air has signed a major deal with Boeing, agreeing to buy as many as 50 wide-body planes in a transaction worth around US$32 billion. The deal, which also includes GE Aerospace, is one of several moves aimed at bolstering American manufacturing, a priority for the Trump administration. This transaction comes on the heels of Korean Air's announcement last year during the Farnborough Airshow, when the airline ordered 40 Boeing 787 and 777X aircraft, with the option to take 10 additional 787 aircraft.

The deal is a testament to a pre-existing relationship between Boeing and Korean Air, with the order to comprise next-generation wide-body aircraft fueled by GE Aerospace engines. The first delivery under the deal is scheduled to start in 2028, which represents a meaningful Korean Air fleet expansion in the future. The sale is a gain for Boeing and the U.S. aircraft industry overall, which has suffered in recent years from production problems and safety concerns.

Boeing, the largest aerospace firm in the world, has been faced with troubles, especially its 737 MAX line, which has been severely criticized for safety problems. In 2023, an Alaska Airlines 737 MAX emergency landing due to a problem with a fuselage panel raised fresh doubts about the safety of the aircraft. Boeing has not been able to shake off such doubts while also facing production issues on other planes, like the 787 Dreamliner.

The deal also aligns with the bigger economic policy of the Trump administration that has revolved around imposing tariffs and boosting the American manufacturing sectors. With Korean Air's massive order, Boeing and GE Aerospace would financially gain at a massive level, solidifying their positions as industry leaders in the global aerospace and aviation sector.