Korean Air finalises order for eight Boeing 777-8 freighters
Announced in August 2025 and finalised in September 2026, Korean Air’s order of eight 777-8Fs is part of a wider 103-aircraft Boeing deal to modernise its fleet.
Korean Air has finalised an order for eight Boeing 777-8 Freighters (777-8F), its first order for the yet-to-enter-service production freighter. The aircraft are part of a wider 103-aircraft Boeing deal announced in August 2025 and finalised on September 16, 2026, as the airline renews its fleet ahead of the integration of Asiana Airlines.
The wider order comprises 20 777-9s, 25 787-10s, 50 737-10s and eight 777-8Fs. Boeing had described the commitment as Korean Air’s largest-ever aircraft order and its largest widebody order from an Asian carrier. The agreement also adds the 777-8F to Korean Air’s fleet plans for the first time.
According to Boeing, the 777-8 Freighter will be the world's largest and most capable twin-engine freighter, offering the highest payload and lowest operating cost per tonne of any large freighter and 30% better fuel efficiency and emissions than the aeroplanes it will replace.
The 777-8F is being developed as part of Boeing’s 777X family and is intended to bring the efficiency and range of the 777X platform into the freighter market. The aircraft is yet to enter commercial service, with Boeing positioning it as a next-generation replacement for existing large freighters. For Korean Air, the order comes as the carrier prepares to operate as a larger unified airline following the integration of Asiana Airlines. The airline said the acquisition of next-generation aircraft is central to its fleet modernisation strategy and will support its future network as a merged carrier.
“This agreement with our long-standing partners, Boeing and GE, marks a pivotal moment for Korean Air,” said Walter Cho, chairman and CEO of Korean Air. “Acquiring these next-generation aircraft is the core of our fleet modernisation strategy, delivering significant gains in fuel efficiency and enhancing the passenger experience across our global network. This investment is also a critical enabler for our future as a merged airline with Asiana, to ensure that our combined carrier is one of the most competitive airlines in the industry.”
The 777-8F order also adds to Korean Air’s existing Boeing widebody fleet and its longstanding relationship with the US aircraft manufacturer. Korean Air currently operates 108 Boeing aeroplanes, including 737s, 747s, 777s and 787s. Boeing said in last year that the airline had 72 Boeing jets on order, which would take its Boeing order book to 175 aircraft following the finalisation of the latest agreement.
Korean Air's orders and commitments for Boeing aeroplanes in 2025 now surpass 150 units. The latest deal follows the airline’s incremental order in March for 40 Boeing widebody aircraft, comprising 20 777-9s and 20 787-10s.
The finalisation was commemorated at an event attended by Korean Air Chairman and CEO Walter Cho, Boeing Commercial Airplanes President and CEO Stephanie Pope, CFM International President and CEO Gaël Méheust, and senior government and financial leaders, including U.S. Ambassador to the Republic of Korea Michelle Steel and ROK Minister of Trade, Industry and Resources Kim Jung-kwan.
(L-R): Hiro Rodriguez, Executive Director of the DOC Advocacy Center; Stephanie Pope, Boeing Commercial Airplanes President and CEO; Kim Jung-kwan, ROK Minister of Trade, Industry and Resources; Michelle Steel, U.S. Ambassador to the Republic of Korea; Walter Cho, Korean Air Chairman and CEO; and Gaël Méheust, CFM International President and CEO. Back row from left: James Kim, AMCHAM Korea Chairman and CEO; Hwang Ki-yeon, Export-Import Bank of Korea Chairman and CEO; and Andrew Gately, U.S. Embassy Minister-Counselor for Commercial Affairs.
The agreement was signed during the Korea-U.S. Business Roundtable “Partnership for a Manufacturing Renaissance”, presided over by Howard Lutnick, U.S. Secretary of Commerce, and Kim Jung-kwan, South Korea’s Minister of Trade, Industry and Energy.
The event also linked the aircraft agreement to the broader industrial relationship between the two countries. Boeing said the milestone serves as a tangible outcome of bilateral trade negotiations and underscores the strength of the U.S.-Republic of Korea industrial alliance.
“We are honoured to strengthen our partnership with Korean Air through this landmark agreement, which reflects the value and capabilities of Boeing's market-leading airplane family,” said Stephanie Pope, president and CEO of Boeing Commercial Airplanes. “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.”
Beyond its aircraft purchases, Korean Air also has an established manufacturing relationship with Boeing. The airline’s Aerospace Division supplies components for the 787 Dreamliner, including its unique raked wingtip, and produces parts for Boeing’s 737 MAX, 767 and 777 family of airplanes.
The 777-8F order marks Korean Air’s first order for the aircraft and adds to its existing freighter fleet of 23 aircraft, comprising Boeing 747-8Fs, 747-400Fs and 777Fs. In October 2025, Korean Air also ordered 33 Airbus A350s, comprising 20 A350-1000s, seven A350Fs and six A350-900s, with the first two A350s already delivered. The carrier has converted seven of its existing A350-1000 passenger aircraft orders into the A350 freighter version.
