Boeing has made significant announcements regarding new orders for its aircraft, revealing on Monday that it has secured commitments for up to 80 of its 787 Dreamliner and 777 double-aisle planes from Japan Airlines and Korean Air. This comes after rival Airbus had gained traction with these carriers following Boeing’s 737 Max issues in January. The recent orders demonstrate Boeing’s determination to regain market share.
Brad McMullen, Boeing’s sales operations head, expressed gratitude for the ongoing partnership with Japan Airlines, highlighting the airline’s decision to add 10 Dreamliners to its fleet with an option for 10 additional units.
These announcements were made during the Farnborough International Airshow, a key event in the aviation industry. Japan Airlines will be acquiring 10 Dreamliners and has an option for 10 more, while Korean Air has ordered twenty 777-9 models and twenty 787-10 planes, with an additional option for 10 more 787-10s.
The reference to a “long-standing partnership” is particularly relevant given a Reuters report from March, which indicated that Airbus sold 11 A321neo jets to Japan Airlines. This marked the first time Japan Airlines had acquired a single-aisle aircraft from a manufacturer other than Boeing, as the A321neo competes with the 737 Max, which was facing difficulties at that time.
Similarly, Bloomberg had reported that Airbus had sold several wide-body jets to Korean Air, which has a predominantly Boeing fleet. This order was perceived as a challenge to the 777x, a model nearing regulatory approval.
Stephanie Pope, head of Boeing’s commercial airplanes division, stated her honor at Korean Air’s selection of Boeing’s largest and most efficient wide-body aircraft, emphasizing their historical collaboration over the past 50 years and the potential for the 777X and 787 Dreamliner to aid the airline’s sustainability and growth objectives.