Boeing has announced significant orders for its large aircraft, securing up to 80 orders for its 787 Dreamliner and 777 double-aisle planes from Japan Airlines and Korean Air. This comes after Airbus made inroads with these airlines following issues related to Boeing’s 737 Max earlier this year, indicating that Boeing is responding to the competitive pressure.
Brad McMullen, Boeing’s head of sales operations, expressed satisfaction with Japan Airlines’ decision to reselect the 787 Dreamliner as part of its fleet modernization. The announcement coincides with the opening day of the Farnborough International Airshow, an important event for the aviation industry. Japan Airlines has placed an order for 10 Dreamliners with the option for an additional 10, while Korean Air has ordered twenty 777-9 models and twenty 787-10 planes, with an option for 10 more 787-10s.
This new partnership highlights the competitive landscape following a previous report in March, where Airbus sold 11 A321neo jets to Japan Airlines, marking a shift for the airline as it had not previously purchased a single-aisle aircraft from any manufacturer other than Boeing. Additionally, reports indicated that Airbus had secured orders for wide-body jets from Korean Air, traditionally a Boeing customer, suggesting a strategic shift amid ongoing challenges with the Boeing 777x.
Stephanie Pope, the head of Boeing’s commercial airplane division, expressed honor at the selection of Boeing’s aircraft by Korean Air. She emphasized that Boeing planes have been vital to Korean Air for the past five decades and that the new orders will support the airline’s long-term sustainability goals and growth.