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 move comes after Airbus had made inroads with these airlines in the wake of Boeing’s troubles with the 737 Max, showing that Boeing is proactively addressing its market position.
Brad McMullen, head of Boeing’s sales operations, expressed satisfaction with Japan Airlines’ decision to choose the 787 Dreamliner for fleet modernization. The announcement coincides with the opening day of the Farnborough International Airshow, an important event for the aviation industry. Japan Airlines has ordered 10 Dreamliners with an option for 10 additional units, while Korean Air has requested 20 777-9s and 20 787-10s, also with an option for 10 more 787-10s.
This announcement follows a Reuters report from March, which indicated that Japan Airlines purchased 11 A321neo jets from Airbus, marking its first acquisition of a single-aisle aircraft from a competitor. This order came amidst ongoing challenges for Boeing’s 737 Max, which was facing scrutiny and a production slowdown.
Similarly, reports from Bloomberg noted that Airbus had sold multiple wide-body jets to Korean Air, which predominantly operates Boeing aircraft. This order was viewed as a slight against the 777X, which is only nearing regulatory approval.
Stephanie Pope, head of Boeing’s commercial airplanes division, stated her appreciation for Korean Air’s selection of Boeing’s largest and most efficient widebody aircraft, emphasizing their longstanding relationship and commitment to supporting the airline’s sustainability and growth goals.