Korean Air Plans 103 Boeings

Boeing’s next few quarters hinge on turning demand into certified deliveries. Korean Air just filed a plan to buy 103 Boeing jets from 2026 to 2039, about $36.2 billion at 2025 list prices: 20 777‑9s, 25 787‑10s, 50 737‑10s, and 8 777‑8 freighters. It’s a plan, not a firm backlog, but it anchors share in a market where Airbus will press the A321neo/XLR and A350. The stakes are blunt: if 737‑10 and 777‑9 certifications slip, Korean Air can defer or swap, margins erode, and Airbus backfills. Watch for firm contracts and slot placements by midyear—proof that intent becomes deposits, pricing power, and scheduled cash.

Meanwhile, the FAA just gave the 787 a monetizable upgrade. Higher max takeoff weights lift the 787‑9 to 571,500 pounds and the 787‑10 to 574,000, unlocking roughly 3–5 metric tons of payload or 350–460 miles of range that airlines can activate at delivery or later. Carriers pay for performance on long, hot‑and‑high routes, strengthening the case to lift 787 output. But here’s the catch: CEO Kelly Ortberg flags seat and cabin approvals as a bottleneck that can push cash right. On the 737, a wiring rework pause slid about 10–15 deliveries from Q1 to Q2, yet February’s 51 jets, including 43 MAXs, show demand is there if delivery velocity holds without cutting inspection rigor.

Featuring insights from John Murphy, Scott Stocker, and Katie Ringgold, plus reporting from Aviation Week and AirInsight.

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