Korean Air chief executive Walter Cho has expressed confidence in Boeing’s ability to deliver newly ordered widebody jets on time despite 787 production disruptions and 777-9 certification delays.
“If I wasn’t assured, I wouldn’t have ordered,” Cho said on the opening day of the Farnborough show on 22 July. “I know Boeing will pull through what they are going through right now. I have full confidence in Boeing.”
Cho’s comments came moments after he disclosed that Korean had ordered 20 of Boeing’s still to be certificated 777-9s and another 20 787-10s. Korean also placed options to on a further 10 787-10s.
Cho says Korean intends to begin receiving the widebodies in 2028 but does not specify which type – 777-9 or 787-10 – Korean expects to receive first.
“I would like to thank Boeing for their hard work, and trust that [the jets] will be delivered to us on time,” Cho adds, describing Korean as having strong partnership with the US manufacturing company that stretches back some 50 years.
The orders throw fresh support behind Boeing’s widebody aircraft programmes as the company works to straighten out 787 production problems and to keep its long-delayed 777-9 certification programme from slipping beyond its current timeline of certification in 2025.
Boeing recently took a large step toward the 777-9’s certification, having on 12 July started the type’s certification flight-test programme.
Still, some top 777-9 buyers have expressed scepticism that Boeing will meet its most-recent timetable, with Emirates Airline president Tim Clark – a carrier expected to be among the first 777-9 operators – speculating the jets may not start arriving until 2026.
Boeing widebodies have long formed the backbone of Korean’s fleet; the carrier currently operates 19 747s, 46 777s, 14 787s, Cirium data shows.
But the airline has in recent years diversified its fleet to include Airbus widebodies. It now operates 25 A330s and five A380s.
Notably, in April Korean finalised orders for 33 A350s, including six A350-900s and 27 A350-100s. Those jets compete directly with Boeing’s 777-9, representing the degree to which Airbus has made inroads with longtime Boeing widebody customers.
“They are comparable,” Cho says of 777-9s and A350s. “They are competing airplanes… I believe whichever comes first will become our flagship.”
