Boeing delivered the first 787-9 to Korean Air on February 22, handing over the first Dreamliner a Korean carrier will operate in South Korea. The parties commemorated the handover with a brief ceremony at Boeing’s 787 assembly operation in North Charleston, South Carolina.

Korean Air was named among Dreamliner launch airlines when it placed a firm order for 10 smaller 787-8s, with options for 10 additional aircraft, in April 2005. Asked why the carrier is taking delivery of its first Dreamliner only now, president and COO Walter Cho noted the earlier order. “Boeing asked us to switch to the 787-9, and we did. We’re happy with it,” he said.

The stretched 787-9, with a listed range of 7,635 nm and capacity for 290 passenger seats, exceeds the 787-8’s range of 7,355 nm and 242 seats. The 787-9 also carries more cargo. “More seats, more range,” Cho said simply, when asked about the switch. A Boeing spokesman elaborated: “We felt for the Korean Air network that the -9 was the right choice.”

Boeing plans to deliver five 787-9s to Korean Air this year, with another five to be delivered through 2019. The carrier’s current fleet consists of 175 Boeing and Airbus aircraft.

Korean Air’s first 787-9 is configured for 269 seats in three classes, with six seats in the first class section, 18 in business class and 245 in economy. The carrier will operate the inaugural Dreamliner on a one-hour domestic route between Seoul’s Gimpo Airport and JeJu for two months as part of a required certification period. It plans to initiate 787 international service from Seoul’s Incheon Airport to Toronto in June, followed by Madrid and Zurich. Korean Air identified the first aircrew as Capt. Namdon Kim and first officer Jungsun Kwon.

Speaking beneath the first-delivery aircraft, Rick Anderson, Boeing Commercial Airplanes vice president of northeast Asia sales, noted that Korean Air’s aerospace division manufactures six parts for the 787, including its distinctive raked wingtips. The division also participates on the 747-8 program and is one of two suppliers producing the advanced technology winglet of the new 737 Max.