A Boeing 777X takes off during its first test flight from the company's factory in Everett, Washington, Jan. 25, 2020.
Terray Sylvester | Reuters
FARNBOROUGH, England — Boeing received orders for at least 40 wide-body planes from Korean Air, including the not-yet-certified 777X, in a show of confidence in the struggling manufacturer.
The order, announced at the Farnborough Airshow outside London, includes 20 777X planes, the largest in Boeing's commercial jet family, and 20 787-10 Dreamliner planes, both long-range jets. The airline may also increase its order for 10 Dreamliners, the largest option for that model.
Korean Air CEO Walter Cho said he expects to take delivery of the planes later this decade.
The twin-engine 777X is years behind schedule, but earlier this month it began certification flights with the U.S. Federal Aviation Administration, a major milestone.
Boeing customers are struggling with plane delays, partly due to post-COVID supply chain issues in the aerospace industry, but also because of a safety crisis and manufacturing errors, particularly after a door plug on one of the smaller and best-selling 737 Max planes broke earlier this year.
“If I didn't have insurance, I wouldn't have ordered it,” Cho said at a news conference about the Korean Air order. “I know Boeing will get through whatever they're going through, and I have full confidence in Boeing.”
The airline, a partner of Delta Airlinesalso ordered competing Airbus A350-1000 aircraft, the largest of that type, earlier this year.
“Whatever comes first, whoever is on time, that will be our flagship,” Cho said.