Boeing has announced significant orders for its 787 Dreamliner and 777 double-aisle aircraft. The company revealed on Monday that it has secured orders for up to 80 planes from Japan Airlines and Korean Air. This development follows a period where Boeing faced competition from French rival Airbus, which made inroads with these airlines after issues with Boeing’s 737 Max model earlier this year.
Brad McMullen, Boeing’s head of sales operations, expressed the company’s satisfaction with Japan Airlines’ continued commitment to the Dreamliner, stating, “We value our long-standing partnership with Japan Airlines and are pleased that they have re-selected the 787 Dreamliner as they continue to modernize their world-class fleet.”
The announcement coincided with the opening day of the Farnborough International Airshow, a significant event in the aviation industry. Japan Airlines has placed an order for 10 Dreamliners with an option for an additional 10, while Korean Air has ordered twenty 777-9 jets and twenty 787-10 planes, also with an option for 10 more 787-10s.
This partnership comes in light of a recent Reuters report indicating that Japan Airlines had previously ordered 11 A321neo jets from Airbus, marking a departure from its usual alliance with Boeing for single-aisle aircraft. Similarly, reports emerged that Airbus sold several wide-body jets to Korean Air, which predominantly operates Boeing aircraft, signaling a shift amidst Boeing’s struggles with the 777x model, now approaching regulatory approval.
Stephanie Pope, head of Boeing’s commercial airplanes division, remarked on the new orders, saying, “We are honored Korean Air has selected our largest, most efficient widebody airplanes to add capacity to its global network. Boeing airplanes have played an integral role with Korean Air over the past 50 years, and the 777X and 787 Dreamliner will continue to support the airline’s long-term goals for sustainability and continued growth.”