Boeing has announced significant orders for its major aircraft models, revealing 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 development comes after Airbus had gained ground with these airlines during the early repercussions of the Boeing 737 Max incident earlier this year, indicating that Boeing is actively seeking to reclaim its market position.
Brad McMullen, head of Boeing’s sales operations, expressed satisfaction with Japan Airlines’ continued partnership, stating, “We value our long-standing partnership with Japan Airlines and are pleased that they have re-selected the 787 Dreamliner as they continue to modernize their world-class fleet.”
These announcements coincided with the opening of the Farnborough International Airshow, a key event in the aviation industry. Japan Airlines plans to order 10 Dreamliners with an option for 10 additional units. Meanwhile, Korean Air has placed an order for twenty 777-9 models and twenty 787-10 planes, also with an option for 10 more 787-10s.
The mention of a “long-standing partnership” echoes a previous report in March, indicating that Airbus had sold 11 A321neo jets to Japan Airlines, marking a shift as it was the first instance of the airline purchasing a single-aisle aircraft from a manufacturer other than Boeing. The A321neo competes directly with the 737 Max, which faced significant challenges at that time.
Additionally, around the same period, reports emerged that Airbus had sold several wide-body jets to Korean Air, which primarily operates Boeing aircraft. This move was interpreted as a setback for the 777x, which is nearing regulatory approval.
Stephanie Pope, head of Boeing’s commercial airplanes division, stated, “We are honored Korean Air has selected our largest, most efficient widebody airplanes to add capacity to its global network. Boeing airplanes have played an integral role with Korean Air over the past 50 years, and the 777X and 787 Dreamliner will continue to support the airline’s long-term goals for sustainability and continued growth.”