=20 ---------------------------------------------------------------------- This article was sent to you by someone who found it on SF Gate. The original article can be found on SFGate.com here: http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?file=3D/news/archive/2003/12/22/f= inancial0827EST0015.DTL ---------------------------------------------------------------------- Monday, December 22, 2003 (AP) Korean Air to buy nine Boeing 777s for US$1.5 billion (12-22) 05:27 PST SEOUL, South Korea (AP) -- Korean Air Co., South Korea's largest airline, said Monday it has signed= a contract to purchase nine Boeing 777-200ER aircraft worth $1.5 billion from Boeing Co. The airline had previously stated its intention to make the purchase in October; the announcement Monday contained more details. Delivery of the planes will start June 2005. Korean Air plans to operate them on routes to the west coast of the United States. The Boeing 777 series, the world's largest twinjet, can seat up to 368 passengers in a three-class configuration with a range of 10,529 miles, according to Boeing. Also in October, the airliner announced it will buy eight Airbus aircraf= t, scheduled for delivery from 2007. That deal is worth up to $2.16 billion. Korean Air currently has total of 118 aircraft. =20 ---------------------------------------------------------------------- Copyright 2003 AP