Korean Air has ordered US$36.2 billion (A$55.72 billion) worth of Boeing aircraft, amounting to around 103 planes to be delivered by the end of 2030.
According to Boeing, the purchase is set to create around 135,000 jobs across the U.S.
Korean Air CEO and chairman Walter Cho said the agreement marks a pivotal moment for Korean Air.
"Acquiring these next-generation aircraft is the core of our fleet modernisation strategy, delivering significant gains in fuel efficiency and enhancing the passenger experience across our global network,” Cho said.
“This investment is also a critical enabler for our future as a merged airline with Asiana, to ensure that our combined carrier is one of the most competitive airlines in the industry."
The deal includes 787, 777 and 737 passenger jets.
This comes just hours after South Korean President Lee Jae Myung met with U.S. President Donald Trump to discuss the 15% tariffs imposed by the U.S. on the Asian country in July.
Trump has also been pushing trading partners to do more business with American firms, leading to Seoul promising US$150 billion to support the U.S shipbuilding industry and South Korea’s Hyundai raising investment in the U.S. from US$21 billion to US$26 billion.
On top of the Boeing deal, Korean Air has also signed a US$690 million deal with manufacturer GE Aerospace and CEM International for 19 spare engines.
Boeing is also trying to turn the business around after several quarters of underperformance. In July, it reported sales of US$22.7 billion in the second quarter of 2025, which is a 35% increase year-over-year.
