ATW Daily News

Korean becomes second 747-8I customer

Monday December 7, 2009

Korean Air became the second airline to order Boeing's 747-8 Intercontinental passenger jet, placing an order for five of the aircraft last week.

The new planes are worth some $1.5 billion at list prices, Boeing said, while the airline indicated it expects delivery between April 2013 and May 2015, according to press reports from Korea.

Lufthansa launched the program three years ago with a commitment for 20, but since then the manufacturer has had considerably more success moving the -8 freighter variant (ATW, March 2009). KE has seven of those already on order. It also has deals in place for 10 787s and 10 A380s.

In a statement provided to ATWOnline, Boeing said it was "delighted" with the order and that the 747-8I "fills the void between the 365- and 550-seat airplanes in [KE's] future fleet." It added that the order "validates the market for this new product and comes at an exciting time as we move closer to the first 747-8 freighter flight in early 2010" (ATWOnline, Nov. 16).

The GEnx-2B-powered 747-8I is configured to seat 467 passengers in a three-class configuration. Boeing said the aircraft is in the "later stages" of the design phase and that assembly is scheduled to start in the middle of next year. First delivery to Lufthansa is pegged for the 2011 fourth quarter. Boeing now has sold 32 -8Is and 78 747-8 freighters. The Intercontinentals not headed to LH or KE are Boeing Business Jet orders.

by Brian Straus

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