Boeing has announced substantial orders for its 787 Dreamliner and 777 double-aisle aircraft from Japan Airlines and Korean Air. The company revealed on Monday that it has secured orders for up to 80 of these planes, indicating a strong response after Airbus had previously made inroads with these airlines following the issues surrounding Boeing’s 737 Max.
Brad McMullen, Boeing’s head of sales operations, expressed satisfaction with Japan Airlines’ continued commitment to the 787 Dreamliner, highlighting the long-standing partnership between the two. The announcement coincides with the opening day of the Farnborough International Airshow, a significant event in the aviation industry. Japan Airlines has committed to purchasing 10 Dreamliners with an option for an additional 10. Meanwhile, Korean Air has ordered twenty 777-9 models and twenty 787-10 aircraft, with the option for 10 more of the latter.
This renewed interest from Japanese and Korean carriers follows reports earlier this year indicating that Airbus had made sales to both airlines, a notable shift as Japan Airlines purchased A321neo jets from Airbus for the first time, and Korean Air bought several wide-body jets from the European manufacturer.
Stephanie Pope, head of Boeing’s commercial airplanes division, commented on Korean Air’s procurement, emphasizing the critical role Boeing aircraft have played in the airline’s operations over the past five decades and the importance of the 777X and 787 Dreamliner in supporting the airline’s goals for sustainability and growth.