Boeing delivers first 747-8 and 777Fs to Korean Air

Korean Air (KE) took delivery of its first Boeing 747-8 and 777 freighters, making KE the first airline to operate both the 747-8 and 777 freighters (ATW Daily News, March 21, 2011).

KE chairman Yang Ho Cho said the carrier’s cargo fleet “is being improved by these fuel-saving planes. They can help reduce carbon emissions by 17% and this supports our goal to be a responsible citizen of the world.”

According to a Boeing statement, KE plans to operate the 747-8Fon its transpacific route, with stops in Osaka and Narita, Japan, Los Angeles and San Francisco. The 777F is KE’s first twin-engine freighter and will allow the airline to open into new markets in Europe, including Vienna, Frankfurt and London.