Boeing has announced a significant acquisition of orders for its large aircraft, stating on Monday that it has secured orders for up to 80 of its 787 Dreamliner and 777 double-aisle planes from Japan Airlines and Korean Air. This comes as a response to competitor Airbus, which had made inroads with these airlines during the challenges faced by Boeing’s 737 Max series.
Brad McMullen, head of Boeing’s sales operations, expressed gratitude for the ongoing collaboration with Japan Airlines, highlighting their choice of the 787 Dreamliner to enhance their fleet.
This announcement coincides with the opening day of the Farnborough International Airshow, a key event in the aviation industry. Japan Airlines will acquire 10 Dreamliners with an option for an additional 10, while Korean Air has ordered twenty 777-9 models and twenty 787-10 planes, also with the option for 10 more 787-10s.
The mention of their “long-standing partnership” brings to mind earlier reports indicating Japan Airlines had ordered 11 A321neo jets from Airbus—marking a shift as it was the first instance of the airline purchasing a single-aisle plane from a company other than Boeing. Formerly, the A321neo was seen as a competitor to the 737 Max, which had been embroiled in controversy and production challenges.
Similarly, reports noted that Airbus had supplied several wide-body jets to Korean Air, which primarily operates Boeing aircraft. This decision was interpreted as a signal to Boeing’s 777X, a model that is still nearing regulatory approval.
Stephanie Pope, head of Boeing’s commercial airplanes division, stated that the selection of Boeing’s largest and most efficient wide-body aircraft will bolster Korean Air’s global network. She noted that Boeing has been a crucial partner for Korean Air over the last 50 years, with the 777X and 787 Dreamliner playing pivotal roles in the airline’s future sustainability and growth objectives.