Boeing has announced significant orders for its 787 Dreamliner and 777 double-aisle aircraft. The company revealed on Monday that it secured orders for up to 80 planes from Japan Airlines and Korean Air. This comes after Airbus made inroads with these airlines following issues with Boeing’s 737 Max earlier this year, indicating that Boeing is aggressively reclaiming its market position.
Brad McMullen, Boeing’s head of sales operations, expressed satisfaction with the renewed commitment from Japan Airlines to the 787 Dreamliner, highlighting the importance of their long-standing partnership. Japan Airlines has ordered 10 Dreamliners, with the option to purchase an additional 10. Meanwhile, Korean Air has committed to 20 777-9 models and 20 787-10 planes, along with the option for 10 more 787-10s.
This announcement coincides with the opening of the Farnborough International Airshow, a key event in the aerospace industry. The partnership reminder is particularly notable following a report in March, which detailed Airbus selling 11 A321neo jets to Japan Airlines—the airline’s first purchase of a single-aisle aircraft from a manufacturer other than Boeing. The A321neo competes with the 737 Max, which has faced ongoing challenges.
Additionally, there were reports indicating that Airbus sold multiple wide-body jets to Korean Air, signifying a potential shift away from Boeing, as the airline’s fleet has been largely Boeing-dominated. Stephanie Pope, head of Boeing’s commercial airplanes division, expressed gratitude for Korean Air’s selection of Boeing’s widebody planes, emphasizing that these aircraft will support the airline’s growth and sustainability efforts in the future.