Korean Air has reinforced its commitment to modernisation by ordering GEnx and GE9X engines to power its newly acquired fleet of Boeing aircraft. This follows the airline’s agreement to purchase 20 Boeing 777-9s and up to 30 Boeing 787-10s.
As part of the deal, Korean Air has also signed a service agreement with GE Aerospace covering the maintenance, repair, and overhaul of the GE9X engines. With this move, the airline becomes the first GE9X customer in South Korea.
Walter Cho, Chairman and CEO of Korean Air and Hanjin Group, emphasised the importance of the collaboration, saying: “GE Aerospace provides the advanced technology that powers our commitment to excellence. Our partnership is essential to Korean Air’s vision of becoming the world’s most loved airline.”
Since its introduction in 2011, the GEnx-engine family has accumulated over 62 million flight hours, making it GE Aerospace’s fastest-selling, high-thrust engine. More than 3,600 GEnx engines are currently in service or on order, powering two-thirds of all 787 aircraft in operation today.
Meanwhile, the GE9X engine, available exclusively on Boeing’s 777X family, is the world’s most powerful commercial aircraft engine. It delivers a 10% improvement in specific fuel consumption compared to its predecessor, the GE90-115B, and boasts industry-leading emissions efficiency.
Both the GEnx and GE9X engines are already certified to operate on sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) blends, supporting Korean Air’s commitment to a more sustainable future in aviation.
