Korean Air (KE, Seoul Incheon) is reportedly in talks to acquire at least ten B777X, according to Reuters. Citing industry sources, the news agency said talks were ongoing but no firm decisions had been made.
The report comes after the Korean airline placed an order with Airbus for twenty-seven A350-1000s and six A350-900s earlier this month. Following the Airbus order, Korean Air CEO Walter Cho told CNBC that the airline intended to place more orders and was in talks with Boeing.
"We've been their customer, we've been their user for a long, long time, [and] a satisfied customer of their B777s," he said. "That's what I'm looking at right now, and hopefully soon we'll be announcing that as well."
A Korean Air spokesman told ch-aviation that the airline remained in active discussions with manufacturers. However, he declined to provide any further details.
Now eleven years in the planning and development, Boeing hopes to have the B777X certified and rolling off the assembly lines next year. Boeing delivery data shows customers have placed orders for 481 of the type, including 205 due to Emirates (EK, Dubai International). When in production, it will be the world's biggest twin-engine aircraft with the largest variant, the B777-9, able to carry over 420 passengers in a two-class configuration.
Korean Air is a traditional Boeing customer, with 107 of its current 163 aircraft supplied by the North American manufacturer. However, in recent years, the airline has placed several orders with Airbus. Korean Air's current Airbus-supplied aircraft include ten A220-300s, ten A321-200NX, five A330-200s, twenty-one A330-300s, and ten A380-800s, although not all are in service. Aside from the A350 order, the airline also has thirty-nine A321-200N and one A321-200NX on order. Its outstanding Boeing orders comprise twenty-two B737-8s, twenty B787-10s, and seven B787-9s.
