Boeing has made significant strides in securing orders for its major aircraft, announcing on Monday that it has received bookings for up to 80 of its 787 Dreamliner and 777 double-aisle planes from Japan Airlines and Korean Air. This development highlights Boeing’s competitive response following a period where rival Airbus gained traction with these airlines after issues with the 737 Max.
Brad McMullen, head of Boeing’s sales operations, expressed appreciation for the long-standing partnership with Japan Airlines, which is adding 10 Dreamliners to its fleet, with the option for an additional 10. Korean Air has also placed an order for twenty 777-9 models and twenty 787-10 planes, along with a possibility for 10 more 787-10s.
This announcement comes on the opening day of the Farnborough International Airshow, a prominent event in the aviation industry. Notably, in March, Airbus made headlines by selling 11 A321neo jets to Japan Airlines, marking the first purchase of a single-aisle jet from a competitor other than Boeing. The A321neo competes directly with the 737 Max, which has been facing scrutiny and production challenges.
Additionally, reports from Bloomberg indicated that Airbus had secured several wide-body aircraft orders from Korean Air, which primarily operates Boeing planes. This was perceived as a potential rejection of the Boeing 777x, which is approaching regulatory approval.
Stephanie Pope, head of Boeing’s commercial airplanes division, remarked on the longstanding relationship with Korean Air, emphasizing that Boeing aircraft have been vital to the airline for the past 50 years. She noted that the new 777X and 787 Dreamliner will aid Korean Air in achieving its long-term sustainability and growth objectives.