Boeing has announced significant orders for its largest aircraft, the 787 Dreamliner and 777 double-aisle planes. The planemaker revealed on Monday that it secured orders for up to 80 planes from Japan Airlines and Korean Air. This development comes after Airbus made inroads with these carriers in the wake of Boeing’s issues surrounding the 737 Max.
Brad McMullen, the head of Boeing’s sales operations, expressed gratitude for the ongoing partnership with Japan Airlines, noting their choice to continue modernizing with the 787 Dreamliner. The announcement coincides with the opening day of the Farnborough International Airshow, an important event in the aerospace industry.
Japan Airlines has confirmed an order for 10 Dreamliners, with an option for 10 more. Meanwhile, Korean Air has ordered twenty 777-9 models and twenty 787-10 airplanes, with an option for an additional 10 787-10s.
The mention of a “long-standing partnership” is noteworthy in light of a March report that revealed Airbus sold 11 A321neo jets to Japan Airlines. This marked a departure from Japan Airlines’ exclusive purchasing of single-aisle aircraft from Boeing. The A321neo competes with the 737 Max, which was facing significant challenges during that period.
Around the same time, reports indicated that Airbus secured several wide-body aircraft orders from Korean Air, which primarily operates Boeing planes. This seemingly represented a setback for Boeing, particularly for its 777x model, which is nearing regulatory approval.
Stephanie Pope, head of Boeing’s commercial airplanes division, expressed pride in Korean Air’s selection of Boeing’s most efficient widebody aircraft to enhance its global capacity. She highlighted the vital role Boeing planes have played in Korean Air’s operations over the past five decades and reiterated the company’s commitment to supporting the airline’s long-term sustainability and growth objectives.