*

Korean Air's $50 billion order includes 103 Boeing ( BA ) planes,

GE

engines

*

Order coincides with South Korean president's visit to

Washington

*

Deal aids Korean Air's expansion and integration with

Asiana

Airlines

(Recasts with CEO interview, comments from Commerce secretary)

By David Shepardson

WASHINGTON, Aug 25 (Reuters) - Korean Air

announced a $50 billion order on Monday for 103 Boeing ( BA )

airplanes and GE Aerospace engines and servicing

coinciding with the visit of South Korean President Lee Jae

Myung to Washington.

The order, the largest in the Korean air carrier's history,

includes a mix of 787s, 777s and 737 Boeing ( BA ) airplanes worth

about $36.5 billion.

Reuters first reported the deal earlier Monday.

Korean Air also announced a separate deal Monday with GE on

the purchase and maintenance of engines valued at $13.7 billion.

Many countries negotiating trade deals with the Trump

administration have announced or plan to announce significant

Boeing ( BA ) airplane orders. Boeing ( BA ) has won a string of major orders

in recent months.

Korean Air CEO Cho Won-tae, who recently visited one of

Boeing's ( BA ) U.S. factories, told Reuters Monday the record-breaking

order will help the largest Korean airline expand to more U.S.,

Latin American and South American destinations.

Cho said about half of the new order of 103 planes would be 737

MAX 10 planes and the rest would be a mix of 777-9 and 787

airplanes. About 80% of the new Boeing ( BA ) planes would replace

existing airplanes in the fleet.

He said the company had faith in Boeing ( BA ) despite prior troubles

the planemaker experienced.

The Boeing ( BA ) deal is worth $36.2 billion, South Korea's

industry ministry said, in addition to the GE deal.

Boeing ( BA ) said the deal would help Korean Air fully integrate

operations with Asiana Airlines, a subsidiary of South Korea's

largest airline it acquired last year.

"As Korean Air transitions to a larger unified carrier, we

are committed to supporting the airline's growth with one of the

world's most efficient fleets," said Stephanie Pope, president

and CEO of Boeing Commercial Airplanes.

Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick told Reuters the major

Boeing ( BA ) and GE deal would boost U.S. aerospace exports.

"The world recognizes that our aircraft are the most

advanced in the world, and this administration is committed to

reshoring advanced manufacturing jobs for Americans," Lutnick

said.

In March, South Korea's industry ministry said Korean Air

said it would soon finalize a $32.7 billion deal for new Boeing ( BA )

and GE engines. Korean Air last year said it would order 20

777-9 and 20 787-10 planes from Boeing ( BA ), with options for an

additional 10 aircraft. The new order is separate from that

purchase.

Korean Air, a founding member of the SkyTeam airline

alliance, was established in 1969 when state-owned Korean Air

Lines was taken over by South Korean conglomerate Hanjin Kal

.