Boeing recently announced significant orders for its 787 Dreamliner and 777 double-aisle aircraft from Japan Airlines and Korean Air. On Monday, the company revealed it secured commitments for up to 80 planes from these two carriers. This development follows a period when Airbus gained traction with these airlines after issues surrounding Boeing’s 737 Max earlier this year.
Brad McMullen, Boeing’s head of sales operations, expressed the company’s appreciation for the ongoing partnership with Japan Airlines. He stated, “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 occurred on the first day of the Farnborough International Airshow, a prominent event in the aerospace industry. Japan Airlines is set to acquire 10 Dreamliners, with an option for an additional 10. Korean Air has ordered twenty 777-9 models and twenty 787-10 planes, with the option to add 10 more 787-10s.
This partnership is particularly notable as it follows a Reuters report in March detailing how Airbus sold 11 A321neo jets to Japan Airlines, marking the first time the airline purchased a single-aisle aircraft from someone other than Boeing. The A321neo competes with the 737 Max, which was facing significant challenges at the time.
Moreover, Bloomberg reported that Airbus had sold several wide-body jets to Korean Air, which primarily operates Boeing airplanes. This order was interpreted as a rebuke to Boeing’s 777x, which is only now 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.”