Korean Air has switched its Boeing Dreamliner order from the 787-800 model to the larger 787-900 version, and will now take delivery of the first aircraft four years later than scheduled.
The carrier had originally planned to introduce the B787-800 aircraft into its fleet in 2012, but has now changed its order to “to the more fuel efficient B787-900”, with the first delivery due in 2016.
According to the Boeing website the B787-800 version carriers between 210 and 250 passengers, while the B787-900 model carriers between 250 and 290.
Korean Air says the effects of the delay will be minimised by the deliveries of new A330-200 aircraft, of which the carrier now has six in its fleet.
Boeing has yet to set a specific launch date for the Dreamliner, following the inflight fire during testing late last year. In January the manufacturer said that it expected to deliver the first aircraft to launch customer ANA in the third quarter of this year.
For more information visit koreanair.com, boeing.com.
Report by Mark Caswell
