Posted on 08/26/2025 6:19:20 AM PDT by Red Badger
Korean Air announced a $50 billion order on Monday for 103 Boeing airplanes and GE Aerospace engines and servicing, coinciding with the visit of South Korean President Lee Jae Myung to Washington.
The order, the largest in the Korean air carrier’s history, includes a mix of 787s, 777s and 737 Boeing airplanes worth about $36.5 billion.
Reuters first reported the deal earlier Monday.
Korean Air also announced a separate deal Monday with GE on the purchase and maintenance of engines valued at $13.7 billion.
Many countries negotiating trade deals with the Trump administration have announced or plan to announce significant Boeing airplane orders. Boeing has won a string of major orders in recent months.
Korean Air CEO Cho Won-tae, who recently visited one of Boeing’s U.S. factories, told Reuters Monday the record-breaking order will help the largest Korean airline expand to more U.S., Latin American and South American destinations.
Cho said about half of the new order of 103 planes would be 737 MAX 10 planes and the rest would be a mix of 777-9 and 787 airplanes. About 80% of the new Boeing planes would replace existing airplanes in the fleet.
He said the company had faith in Boeing despite prior troubles the planemaker experienced.
The Boeing deal is worth $36.2 billion, South Korea’s industry ministry said, in addition to the GE deal.
Boeing said the deal would help Korean Air fully integrate operations with Asiana Airlines, a subsidiary of South Korea’s largest airline it acquired last year.
“As Korean Air transitions to a larger unified carrier, we are committed to supporting the airline’s growth with one of the world’s most efficient fleets,” said Stephanie Pope, president and CEO of Boeing Commercial Airplanes.
Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick told Reuters the major Boeing and GE deal would boost U.S. aerospace exports.
“The world recognizes that our aircraft are the most advanced in the world, and this administration is committed to reshoring advanced manufacturing jobs for Americans,” Lutnick said.
In March, South Korea’s industry ministry said Korean Air said it would soon finalize a $32.7 billion deal for new Boeing and GE engines. Korean Air last year said it would order 20 777-9 and 20 787-10 planes from Boeing, with options for an additional 10 aircraft. The new order is separate from that purchase.
Korean Air, a founding member of the SkyTeam airline alliance, was established in 1969 when state-owned Korean Air Lines was taken over by South Korean conglomerate Hanjin Kal.
![]() |
Click here: to donate by Credit Card Or here: to donate by PayPal Or by mail to: Free Republic, LLC - PO Box 9771 - Fresno, CA 93794 Thank you very much and God bless you. |
Qatar also made a huge Boeing order during Trump’s visit.
More Jobs!
What could go wrong? Boeing can’t fill the orders it has now on the books.
I recently booked a flight on KAL. Less than half the fare amount went to the airline itself. The majority was taken by fees, duties, etc. It is corruption subsisting on private enterprise.
Yes they can. Boeing can ramp up or ramp down production based on demand. Manufacturing companies do it all the time.
It is going to be interesting to see what the impact will be of sending millions of peaceful, non violent, working, tax paying immigrants back home. Our current birth rate does not replace our legal population, so where will we get the workers for all these great overseas sales, and the US businesses returning to produce on our own shores? Will they be allowed to return legally going through regular immigration procedures? Will they even want to after going through the current expulsion process?
Hell of a salesman our president is.
I don’t remember any other American President who made such great trade deals that benefit both parties.
Korea upgrades their fleet and Boeing has work on their schedule for years to come.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.