Dhaka: Korean Air has announced South Korea’s biggest-ever aviation purchase, agreeing to buy 103 Boeing aircraft worth about US$50 billion, including spare GE Aerospace engines. The order covers 20 777-9s, 25 787-10 Dreamliners, 50 737-10s and eight 777-8F freighters, with phased deliveries through 2030.

The agreement, signed in Washington during a Korea–US business meeting overseen by Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick and Seoul’s Trade Ministry, came hours after President Lee Jae-myung held his first talks with US President Donald Trump.

Boeing said it was Korean Air’s largest order and its biggest widebody deal with an Asian carrier, supporting 135,000 US jobs. CEO Walter Cho called the move central to fleet modernisation and to the planned merger with Asiana.

The deal follows a March commitment for up to 50 Boeing jets and comes as Boeing faces safety scrutiny after the June crash of an Air India 787 that killed 241 people.

-B